TNF receptors, TNF binding proteins and DNAs coding for them

ABSTRACT

DNA sequences coding for a TNF-binding protein and for the TNF receptor of which this protein constitutes the soluble domain. The DNA sequences can be used for preparing recombinant DNA molecules in order to produce TNF-binding protein and TNF receptor. Recombinant TNF-binding protein is used in pharmaceutical preparations for treating indications in which TNF has a harmful effect. With the aid of the TNF receptor or fragments thereof or with the aid of suitable host organisms transformed with recombinant DNA molecules containing the DNA which codes for the TNF receptor or fragments or modifications thereof, it is possible to investigate substances for their interaction with the TNF receptor and/or for their effect on the biological activity of TNF.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

[0001] The invention is in the field of recombinant genetics. Inparticular, the invention relates to a TNF receptor and to a TNF bindingprotein produced by recombinant means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α) was first found in the serum ofmice and rabbits which had been infected with Bacillus Calmette-Guerinand which had been injected with endotoxin, and was recognized on thebasis of its cytotoxic and antitumor properties (Carswell, E. A., etal., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 25: 3666-3670 (1975)). It is producedparticularly by activated macrophages and monocytes.

[0003] Numerous types of cells which are targets of TNF have surfacereceptors with a high affinity for this polypeptide (Old, L. J., Nature326:330-331 (1987)); it was assumed that lymphotoxin (TNF-β) binds tothe same receptor (Aggarwal, B. B., et al., Nature 318:655-667 (1985);Gullberg, U., et al., Eur. J. Haematol. 39:241-251 (1987)). TNF-α isidentical to a factor referred to as cachectin (Beutler, B., et al.,Nature 316:552-554 (1985)) which suppresses lipoprotein lipase andresults in hypertriglyceridaemia in chronically inflammatory andmalignant diseases (Torti, F. M. et al., Nature 229:867-869 (1985);Mahoney, J. R., et al., J. Immunol. 134:1673-1675 (1985)). TNF-α wouldappear to be involved in growth regulation and in the differentiationand function of cells which are involved in inflammation, immuneprocesses and hematopoieses.

[0004] TNF can have a positive effect on the host organism bystimulating neutrophils (Shalaby, M. R., et al., J. Immunol.135:2069-2073 (1985); Klebanoff, S. J., et al., J. Immunol.136:4220-4225 (1986)) and monocytes and by inhibiting the replication ofviruses (Mestan, J., et al., Nature 323:816-819 (1986); Wong, G. H. W.,et al., Nature 323:819-822 (1986)). Moreover, TNF-α activates the immunedefenses against parasites and acts directly and/or indirectly as amediator in immune reactions, inflammatory processes and other processesin the body, although the mechanisms by which it works have not yet beenclarified in a number of cases. However, the administration of TNF-α(Cerami, A., et al., Immunol. Today 9:28-31 (1988)) can also beaccompanied by harmful phenomena (Tracey, K. J., et al., Science234:470-474 (1986)) such as shock and tissue damage, which can beremedied by means of antibodies against TNF-α (Tracey, K. J., et al.,Nature 330:662-666 (1987)).

[0005] A number of observations lead one to conclude that endogenouslyreleased TNF-α is involved in various pathological conditions. Thus,TNF-α appears to be a mediator of cachexia which can occur inchronically invasive, e.g. parasitic, diseases. TNF-α also appears toplay a major part in the pathogenesis of shock caused by gram negativebacteria (endotoxic shock); it would also appear to be implicated insome if not all the effects of lipopoly-saccharides (Beutler B., et al.,Ann. Rev. Biochem. 57:505-18 (1988)). TNF has also been postulated tohave a function in the tissue damage which occurs in inflammatoryprocesses in the joints and other tissues, and in the lethality andmorbidity of the graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR, Transplant Rejection(Piguet, P. F., et al., Immunobiol. 175:27 (1987)). A correlation hasalso been reported between the concentration of TNF in the serum and thefatal outcome of meningococcal diseases (Waage, A., et al., Lancetii:355-357 (1987)).

[0006] It has also been observed that the administration of TNF-α over alengthy period causes a state of anorexia and malnutrition which hassymptoms similar to those of cachexia, which accompany neoplastic andchronic infectious diseases (Oliff A., et al., Cell 555-63 (1987)).

[0007] It has been reported that a protein derived from the urine offever patients has a TNF inhibiting activity; the effect of this proteinis presumed to be due to a competitive mechanism at the level of thereceptors (similar to the effect of the interleukin-1 inhibitor(Seckinger, P., et al., J. Immunol. 139:1546-1549 (1987); Seckinger P.,et al., J. Exp. Med., 1511-16 (1988)).

[0008] EP-A2 308 378 describes a TNF inhibiting protein obtained fromhuman urine. Its activity was demonstrated in the urine of healthy andill subjects and determined on the basis of its ability to inhibit thebinding of TNF-α to its receptors on human HeLa cells and FS 11fibroblasts and the cytotoxic effect of TNF-α on murine A9 cells. Theprotein was purified until it became substantially homogeneous andcharacterized by its N-ending. This patent publication does indeedoutline some theoretically possible methods of obtaining the DNA codingfor the protein and the recombinant protein-itself; however, there is noconcrete information as to which of the theoretically possible solutionsis successful.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The invention relates to DNA coding for a TNF receptor protein ora fragment thereof. In particular, the invention relates to DNA codingfor the TNF receptor protein having the formula ATG GGC CTC TCC ACC GTGCCT GAC CTG CTG CTG CCA CTG GTG CTC CTG GAG CTG TTG GTG GGA ATA TAC CCCTCA GGG GTT ATT GGA CTG GTC CCT CAC CTA GGG GAC AGG GAG AAG AGA GAT AGTGTG TGT CCC CAA GGA AAA TAT ATC CAC CCT CAA AAT AAT TCG ATT TGC TGT ACCAAG TGC CAC AAA GGA ACC TAC TTG TAC AAT GAC TGT CCA GGC CCG GGG CAG GATACG GAC TGC AGG GAG TGT GAG AGC GGC TCC TTC ACC GCT TCA GAA AAC CAC CTCAGA CAC TGC CTC AGC TGC TCC AAA TGC CGA AAG GAA ATG GGT CAG GTG GAG ATCTCT TCT TGC ACA GTG GAC CGG GAC ACC GTG TGT GGC TGC AGG AAG AAC CAG TACCGG CAT TAT TGG AGT GAA AAC CTT TTC CAG TGC TTC AAT TGC AGC CTC TGC CTCAAT GGG ACC GTG CAC CTC TCC TGC CAG GAG AAA CAG AAC ACC GTG TGC ACC TGCCAT GCA GGT TTC TTT CTA AGA GAA AAC GAG TGT GTC TCC TGT AGT AAC TGT AAGAAA AGC CTG GAG TGC ACG AAG TTG TGC CTA CCC CAG ATT GAG AAT GTT AAG GGCACT GAG GAC TCA GGC ACC ACA GTG CTG TTG CCC CTG GTC ATT TTC TTT GGT CTTTGC CTT TTA TCC CTC CTC TTC ATT GGT TTA ATG TAT CGC TAC CAA CGG TGG AAGTCC AAG CTC TAC TCC ATT GTT TGT GGG AAA TCG ACA CCT GAA AAA GAG GGG GAGCTT GAA GGA ACT ACT ACT AAG CCC CTG GCC CCA AAC CCA AGC TTC AGT CCC ACTCCA GGC TTC ACC CCC ACC CTG GGC TTC AGT CCC GTG CCC AGT TCC ACC TTC ACCTCC AGC TCC ACC TAT ACC CCC GGT GAC TGT CCC AAC TTT GCG GCT CCC CGC AGAGAG GTG GCA CCA CCC TAT CAG GGG GCT GAC CCC ATC CTT GCG ACA GCC CTC GCCTCC GAC CCC ATC CCC AAC CCC CTT CAG AAG TGG GAG GAC AGC GCC CAC AAG CCACAG AGC CTA GAC ACT GAT GAC CCC GCG ACG CTG TAC GCC GTG GTG GAG AAC GTGCCC CCG TTG CGC TGG AAG GAA TTC GTG CGG CGC CTA GGG CTG AGC GAC CAC GAGATC GAT CGG CTG GAG CTG CAG AAC GGG CGC TGC CTG CGC GAG GCG CAA TAC AGCATG CTG GCG ACC TGG AGG CGG CGC ACG CCG CGG CGC GAG GCC ACG CTG GAG CTGCTG GGA CGC GTG CTC CGC GAC ATG GAC CTG CTG CCC TGC CTG GAG GAC ATC GAGGAG GCG CTT TGC GGC CCC GCC GCC CTC CCG CCC GCG CCC AGT CTT CTC AGA TGA

[0010] or a fragment or a degenerate variant thereof.

[0011] The invention also relates to DNA coding for a secretableTNF-binding protein having the formula R²  GAT AGT GTG TGT CCC CAA GGAAAA TAT ATC CAC CCT CAA AAT AAT TCG ATT TGC TGT ACC AAG TGC CAC AAA GGAACC TAC TTG TAC AAT GAC TGT CCA GGC CCG GGG CAG GAT ACG GAC TGC AGG GAGTGT GAG AGC GGC TCC TTC ACC GCT TCA GAA AAC CAC CTC AGA CAC TGC CTC AGCTGC TCC AAA TGC CGA AAG GAA ATG GGT CAG GTG GAG ATC TCT TCT TGC ACA GTGGAC CGG GAC ACC GTG TGT GGC TGC AGG AAG AAC CAG TAC CGG CAT TAT TGG AGTGAA AAC CTT TTC CAG TGC TTC AAT TGC AGC CTC TGC CTC AAT GGG ACC GTG CACCTC TCC TGC CAG GAG AAA CAG AAC ACC GTG TGG ACC TGC CAT GCA GGT TTC TTTCTA AGA GAA AAC GAG TGT GTG TCC TGT AGT AAC TGT AAG AAA AGC CTG GAG TGCACG AAG TTG TGC CTA CCC CAG ATT GAG AAT

[0012] wherein R² is optionally absent or represents DNA coding for apolypeptide which can be cleaved in vivo; or a degenerate variantthereof.

[0013] The invention also relates to nucleic acid which hybridizes withthe DNA of the invention under conditions of low stringency and whichcodes for a polypeptide having the ability to bind TNF.

[0014] The invention also relates to a recombinant DNA molecule,comprising the DNA molecules of the invention.

[0015] The invention also relates to host cells transformed with therecombinant DNA molecules of the invention.

[0016] The invention also relates to the substantially pure recombinantTNF receptor polypeptides of the invention. In particular, the inventionrelates to a TNF receptor of formula met gly leu ser thr val pro asp leuleu leu pro leu val leu leu glu leu leu val gly ile tyr pro ser gly valile gly leu val pro his leu gly asp arg glu lys arg asp ser val cys progln gly lys tyr ile his pro gln asn asn ser ile cys cys thr lys cys hislys gly thr tyr leu tyr asn asp cys pro gly pro gly gln asp thr asp cysarg glu cys glu ser gly ser phe thr ala ser glu asn his leu arg his cysleu ser cys ser lys cys arg lys glu met gly gln val glu ile ser ser cysthr val asp arg asp thr val cys gly cys arg lys asn gln tyr arg his tyrtrp ser glu asn leu phe gln cys phe asn cys ser leu cys leu asn gly thrval his leu ser cys gln glu lys gln asn thr val cys thr cys his ala glyphe phe leu arg glu asn glu cys val ser cys ser asn cys lys lys ser leuglu cys thr lys leu cys leu pro gln ile glu asn val lys gly thr glu aspser gly thr thr val leu leu pro leu val ile phe phe gly leu cys leu leuser leu leu phe ile gly leu met tyr arg tyr gln arg trp lys ser lys leutyr ser ile val cys gly lys ser thr pro glu lys glu gly glu leu glu glythr thr thr lys pro leu ala pro asn pro ser phe ser pro thr pro gly phethr pro thr leu gly phe ser pro val pro ser ser thr phe thr ser ser serthr tyr thr pro gly asp cys pro asn phe ala ala pro arg arg glu val alapro pro tyr gln gly ala asp pro ile leu ala thr ala leu ala ser asp proile pro asn pro leu gln lys trp glu asp ser ala his lys pro gln ser leuasp thr asp asp pro ala thr leu tyr ala val val glu asn val pro pro leuarg trp lys glu phe val arg arg leu gly leu ser asp his glu ile asp argleu glu leu gln asn gly arg cys leu arg glu ala gln tyr ser met leu alathr trp arg arg arg thr pro arg arg glu ala thr leu glu leu leu gly argval leu arg asp met asp leu leu gly cys leu glu asp ile glu glu ala leucys gly pro ala ala leu pro pro ala pro ser leu leu arg

[0017] or a fragment thereof which binds to TNF.

[0018] The invention also relates to the TNF binding protein of theformula asp ser val cys pro gln gly lys tyr ile his pro gln asn asn serile cys cys thr lys cys his lys gly thr tyr leu tyr asn asp cys pro glypro gly gln asp thr asp cys arg glu cys glu ser gly ser phe thr ala serglu asn his leu arg his cys leu ser cys ser lys cys arg lys glu met glygln val glu ile ser ser cys thr val asp arg asp thr val cys gly cys arglys asn gln tyr arg his tyr trp ser glu asn leu phe gln cys phe asn cysser leu cys leu asn gly thr val his leu ser cys gln glu lys gln asn thrval cys thr cys his ala gly phe phe leu arg glu asn glu cys val ser cysser asn cys lys lys ser leu glu cys thr lys leu cys leu pro gln ile gluasn

[0019] or a functional derivative or fragment thereof having the abilityto bind TNF.

[0020] The invention also relates to a process for preparing arecombinant TNF receptor protein, or a functional derivative thereofwhich is capable of binding to TNF, comprising cultivating a host cellof the invention and isolating the expressed recombinant TNF receptorprotein.

[0021] The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositionscomprising a TNF receptor protein, or a functional derivative orfragment thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

[0022] The invention also relates to a method for ameliorating theharmful effects of TNF in an animal, comprising administering to ananimal in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of aTNF receptor polypeptide, or fragment thereof which binds to TNF.

[0023] The invention also relates to a method for the detection of TNFin a biological sample, comprising contacting said sample with aneffective amount of a TNF receptor polypeptide, or fragment thereofwhich binds to TNF, and detecting whether a complex is formed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0024]FIG. 1 depicts the complete nucleotide sequence of 1334 bases ofthe cDNA insert of λTNF-BP15 and pTNF-BP15.

[0025]FIG. 2 depicts a hydrophobicity profile which was produced usingthe Mac Molly program.

[0026]FIG. 3 depicts the scheme used for the construction of plasmidpCMV-SV40.

[0027]FIG. 4 depicts the scheme used for the construction of plasmidpSV2gptDHFR Mut2.

[0028]FIG. 5 depicts the scheme used for the construction of plasmidspAD-CMV1 and pAD-CMV2.

[0029]FIG. 6 depicts the full nucleotide sequence of the 6414 bp plasmidpADCMV1.

[0030]FIG. 7 depicts the structure of the plasmids designated pADTNF-BP,pADBTNF-BP, pADTNF-R and pADBTNF-R.

[0031]FIG. 8 depicts the complete nucleotide sequence of raTNF-R8.

[0032]FIG. 9 depicts the complete coding region for human TNF-R inlTNF-R2.

[0033]FIG. 10 depicts an autoradiogram showing a singular RNA band witha length of 2.3 kb for the human TNF receptor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0034] In preliminary tests for the purposes of the present invention(see Examples 1-4), a protein was identified from the dialyzed urine ofuraemia patients, and this protein inhibits the biological effects ofTNF-α by interacting with TNF-α to prevent it from binding to its cellsurface receptor (Olsson I., et al., Eur. J. Haematol. 41:414-420(1988)). This protein was also found to have an affinity for TNF-β.

[0035] The presence of this protein (hereinafter referred to as TNF-BP)in concentrated dialyzed urine was detected by competition with thebinding of radioactively labelled recombinant TNF-α to a subclone ofHL-60 cells, by measuring the influence of dialyzed urine on the bindingof ¹²⁵I-TNF-α to the cells. The binding tests carried out showed adosage dependent inhibition of TNF-α binding to the cells byconcentrated dialyzed urine (the possible interpretation that thereduction in binding observed might be caused by any TNF-α present inthe urine or by TNF-β competing for the binding, was ruled out by thediscovery that the reduction in binding could not be remedied by the useof TNF-α and TNF-β anti-bodies).

[0036] Analogously, in preliminary tests for the purposes of the presentinvention, it was demonstrated that TNF-BP also shows an affinity forTNF-β, which is about {fraction (1/50)} of its affinity for TNF-α.

[0037] Gel chromatography on Sephacryl 200 showed that a substance inthe urine and serum of dialysis patients and in the serum of healthysubjects forms a complex with recombinant TNF-α with a molecular weightof about 75,000.

[0038] TNF-BP was concentrated 62 times from several samples of dialyzedurine from uraemia patients by partial purification using pressureultrafiltration, ion exchange chromatography and gel chromatography.

[0039] The preparations obtained were used to detect the biologicalactivity of TNF-BP by inhibiting the growth-inhibiting effect of TNF-αon HL-60-10 cells. TNF-BP was found to have a dosage dependent effect onthe biological activity of TNF-α. The binding characteristics of cellswas also investigated by pretreatment with TNF-BP and an exclusivecompetition binding test. It was shown that pretreatment of the cellswith TNF-BP does not affect the binding of TNF-α to the cells. Thisindicates that the effect of TNF-BP is not based on any binding to thecells and competition with TNF-α for the binding to the receptor.

[0040] The substantially homogeneous protein is obtained in highlypurified form by concentrating urine from dialysis patients byultrafiltration, dialyzing the concentrated urine and concentrating itfour-fold in a first purification step using DEAE sephacelchromatography. Further concentration was carried out by affinitychromatography using sepharose-bound TNF-α. The final purification wascarried out using reverse phase chromatography (FPLC).

[0041] It was shown that the substantially highly purified proteininhibits the cytotoxic effect of TNF-α on WEHI 164 clone 13 cells(olsson et al., Eur. J. Haematol. 42:270-275 (1989)).

[0042] The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the substantially highlypurified protein was analyzed. It was found to be Asp-Ser-Val-Xaa-Pro-Gln-Gly-Lys-Tyr-Ile- His-Pro-Gln (main sequence); the following N-terminalsequence was detected in traces:Leu-(Val)-(Pro)-(His)-Leu-Gly-Xaa-Arg-Glu (subsidiary sequence). Acomparison of the main sequence with the N-terminal sequence of theTNF-inhibiting protein disclosed in EP-A2 308 378 shows that the twoproteins are identical.

[0043] The following amino acid composition was found, given in mols ofamino acid per mol of protein and in mol-% of amino acid, measured asthe average of 24-hour and 48-hour hydro-lysis: Mol of amino acid/ Mol %amino mol of protein acid Asp + Asn 27.5 10.9 Thr 15.8 6.3 Ser 20.7 8.2Glu + Gln 35.0 13.8 Pro 9.5 3.8 Gly 16.0 6.3 Ala 4.2 1.7 Cys 32.3 12.8Val 10.8 4.3 Met 1.1 0.4 Ile 7.0 2.8 Leu 20.2 8.0 Tyr 6.1 2.4 Phe 8.13.2 His 11.1 4.4 Lys 15.7 6.2 Arg 11.8 4.7 Total 252.9 100

[0044] A content of glucosamine was detected by amino acid analysis. Theresults of an affinoblot carried out using Concanavalin A and wheatgermlectin also showed that TNF-BP is a glycoprotein.

[0045] The substantially homogeneous protein was digested with trypsinand the amino acid sequences of 17 of the cleavage peptides obtainedwere determined. The C-ending was also analyzed.

[0046] TNF-BP obviously has the function of a regulator of TNF activitywith the ability to buffer the variations in concentration of free,biologically active TNF-α. TNF-BP should also affect the secretion ofTNF by the kidneys because the complex formed with TNF, the molecularweight of which was measured at around 75,000 by gel permeationchromatography on Sephadex G 75, is obviously not retained by theglomerulus, unlike TNF. The TNF-BP was detected in the urine of dialysispatients as one of three main protein components which have an affinityfor TNF and which are eluted together with TNF-BP from the TNF affinitychromatography column. However, the other two proteins obviously bind ina manner which does not affect the binding of TNF-α to its cell surfacereceptor.

[0047] The results obtained regarding the biological activity of TNF-BP,in particular the comparison of the binding constant with the bindingconstant described for the TNF receptor (Creasey, A. A., et al., Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. 84:3293-3297 (1987)), provided a first indication thatthis protein might be the soluble part of a TNF receptor.

[0048] In view of its ability to inhibit the biological activity ofTNF-α and TNF-β, the TNF binding protein is suitable for use in caseswhere a reduction in the TNF activity in the body is indicated.Functional derivatives or fragments of the TNF binding protein with theability to inhibit the biological activity of TNF are also suitable foruse in such cases.

[0049] Covalent modifications of the TNF binding proteins of the presentinvention are included within the scope of this invention. Variant TNFbinding proteins may be conveniently prepared by in vitro synthesis.Such modifications may be introduced into the molecule by reactingtargeted amino acid residues of the purified or crude protein with anorganic derivatizing agent that is capable of reacting with selectedside chains or terminal residues. The resulting covalent derivatives areuseful in programs directed at identifying residues important forbiological activity.

[0050] Cysteinyl residues most commonly are reacted with α-haloacetates(and corresponding amines), such as chloroacetic acid orchloroacetamide, to give carboxymethyl or carboxyamidomethylderivatives. Cysteinyl residues also are derivatized by reaction withbromotrifluoroacetone, α-bromo-β-(5-imidozoyl)propionic acid,chloroacetyl phosphate, N-alkylmaleimides, 3-nitro-2-pyridyl disulfide,methyl 2-pyridyl disulfide, p-chloromercuribenzoate,2-chloromercuri-4-nitrophenol, or chloro-7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole.

[0051] Histidyl residues are derivatized by reaction withdiethylprocarbonate at pH 5.5-7.0 because this agent is relativelyspecific for the histidyl side chain. Para-bromophenacyl bromide also isuseful; the reaction is preferably performed in 0.1 M sodium cacodylateat pH 6.0.

[0052] Lysinyl and amino terminal residues are reacted with succinic orother carboxylic acid anhydrides. Derivatization with these agents hasthe effect of reversing the charge of the lysinyl residues. Othersuitable reagents for derivatizing α-amino-containing residues includeimidoesters such as methyl picolinimidate; pyridoxal phosphate;pyridoxal; chloroborohydride; trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid;0-methylissurea; 2,4 pentanedione; and transaminase-catalyzed reactionwith glyoxylate.

[0053] Arginyl residues are modified by reaction with one or severalconventional reagents, among them phenylglyoxal, 2,3-butanedione,1,2-cyclohexanedione, and ninhydrin. Derivatization of arginine residuesrequires that the reaction be performed in alkaline conditions becauseof the high pK_(a) of the guanidine functional group. Furthermore, thesereagents may react with the groups of lysine as well as the arginineepsilon-amino group.

[0054] The specific modification of tyrosyl residues per se has beenstudied extensively, with particular interest in introducing spectrallabels into tyrosyl residues by reaction with aromatic diazoniumcompounds or tetranitromethane. Most commonly, N-acetylimidizol andtetranitromethane are used to form 0-acetyl tyrosyl species and 3-nitroderivatives, respectively. Tyrosyl residues are iodinated using ¹²⁵I or¹³¹I to prepare labeled proteins for use in radioimmunoassay, thechloramine T method described above being suitable.

[0055] Carboxyl side groups (aspartyl or glutamyl) are selectivelymodified by reaction with carbodiimides (R′-N-C-N-R′) such as1-cyclohexyl-3-(2-morpholinyl-(4- ethyl) carbodiimide or 1-ethyl-3 (4azonia 4,4-dimethylpentyl) carbodiimide. Furthermore, aspartyl andglutamyl residues are converted to asparaginyl and glutaminyl residuesby reaction with ammonium ions.

[0056] Derivatization with bifunctional agents is useful forcrosslinking the TNF binding proteins to water-insoluble supportmatrixes or surfaces for use in the method for cleaving TNF bindingprotein-fusion polypeptide to release and recover the cleavedpolypeptide. Commonly used crosslinking agents include, e.g.,1,1-bis(diazoacetyl)-2-phenylethane, glutaraldehyde,N-hydroxysuccinimide esters, for example, esters with 4-azidosalicylicacid, homobifunctional imidoesters, including disuccinimidyl esters suchas 3,3′-dithiobis (succinimidylpropionate), and bifunctional maleimidessuch as bis-N-maleimido-1,8-octane. Derivatizing agents such asmethyl-3-[(p-azidophenyl)dithio]propioimidate yield photoactivatableintermediates that are capable of forming crosslinks in the presence oflight. Alternatively, reactive water-insoluble matrices such as cyanogenbromide-activated carbohydrates and the reactive substrates described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 3,969,287; 3,691,016; 4,195,128; 4,247,642; 4,229,537;and 4,330,440 are employed for protein immobilization.

[0057] Glutaminyl and asparaginyl residues are frequently deamidated tothe corresponding glutamyl and aspartyl residues. Alternatively, theseresidues are deamidated under mildly acidic conditions. Either form ofthese residues falls within the scope of this invention.

[0058] Other modifications include hydroxylation of proline and lysine,phosphorylation of hydroxyl groups of seryl or theonyl residues,methylation of the a-amino groups of lysine, arginine, and histidineside chains (T. E. Creighton, Proteins: Structure and MoleculeProperties, W. H. Freeman & Co., San Francisco, pp. 79-86 (1983)),acetylation of the N-terminal amine, and, in some instances, amidationof the C-terminal carboxyl groups.

[0059] Amino acid sequence variants of the TNF binding proteins can alsobe prepared by mutations in the DNA. Such variants include, for example,deletions from, or insertions or substitutions of, residues within theamino acid sequence shown in the Figures. Any combination of deletion,insertion, and substitution may also be made to arrive at the finalconstruct, provided that the final construct possesses the desiredactivity (binding to TNF). Obviously, the mutations that will be made inthe DNA encoding the variant must not place the sequence out of readingframe and preferably will not create complementary regions that couldproduce secondary mRNA structure (see EP Patent Application PublicationNo. 75,444).

[0060] At the genetic level, these variants ordinarily are prepared bysite-directed mutagenesis of nucleotides in the DNA encoding the TNFbinding proteins, thereby producing DNA encoding the variant, andthereafter expressing the DNA in recombinant cell culture. The variantstypically exhibit the same qualitative biological activity as thenaturally occurring analog.

[0061] While the site for introducing an amino acid sequence variationis predetermined, the mutation per se need not be predetermined. Forexample, to optimize the performance of a mutation at a given site,random mutagenesis may be conducted at the target codon or region andthe expressed TNF binding protein variants screened for the optimalcombination of desired activity. Techniques for making substitutionmutations at predetermined sites in DNA having a known sequence are wellknown, for example, site-specific mutagenesis.

[0062] Preparation of a TNF binding protein variant in accordanceherewith is preferably achieved by site-specific mutagenesis of DNA thatencodes an earlier prepared variant or a nonvariant version of theprotein. Site-specific mutagenesis allows the production of TNF bindingprotein variants through the use of specific oligonucleotide sequencesthat encode the DNA sequence of the desired mutation, as well as asufficient number of adjacent nucleotides, to provide a primer sequenceof sufficient size and sequence complexity to form a stable duplex onboth sides of the deletion junction being traversed. Typically, a primerof about 20 to 25 nucleotides in length is preferred, with about 5 to 10residues on both sides of the junction of the sequence being altered. Ingeneral, the technique of site-specific mutagenesis is well known in theart, as exemplified by publications such as Adelman et al., DNA 2:183(1983), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0063] As will be appreciated, the site-specific mutagenesis techniquetypically employs a phage vector that exists in both a single-strandedand double-stranded form. Typical vectors useful in site-directedmutagenesis include vectors such as the M13 phage, for example, asdisclosed by Messing et al., Third Cleveland Symposium on Macromoleculesand Recombinant DNA, Editor A. Walton, Elsevier, Amsterdam (1981), thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. These phage arereadily commercially available and their use is generally well known tothose skilled in the art. Alternatively, plasmid vectors that contain asingle-stranded phage origin of replication (Veira et al., Meth.Enzymol. 153:3 (1987)) may be employed to obtain single-stranded DNA.

[0064] In general, site-directed mutagenesis in accordance herewith isperformed by first obtaining a single-stranded vector that includeswithin its sequence a DNA sequence that encodes the relevant protein. Anoligonucleotide primer bearing the desired mutated sequence is prepared,generally synthetically, for example, by the method of Crea et al.,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 75:5765 (1978). This primer is thenannealed with the single-stranded protein-sequence-containing vector,and subjected to DNA-polymerizing enzymes such as E. coli polymerase IKlenow fragment, to complete the synthesis of the mutation-bearingstrand. Thus, a mutated sequence and the second strand bears the desiredmutation. This heteroduplex vector is then used to transform appropriatecells such as JM101 cells and clones are selected that includerecombinant vectors bearing the mutated sequence arrangement.

[0065] After such a clone is selected, the mutated protein region may beremoved and placed in an appropriate vector for protein production,generally an expression vector of the type that may be employed fortransformation of an appropriate host.

[0066] Amino acid sequence deletions may generally range from about 1 to30 residues or 1 to 10 residues, and typically are contiguous.

[0067] Amino acid sequence insertions include amino and/orcarboxyl-terminal fusions of from one residue to polypeptides ofessentially unrestricted length, as well as intrasequence insertions ofsingle or multiple amino acid residues. Intrasequence insertions (i.e.,insertions within the complete hormone receptor molecule sequence) mayrange generally from about 1 to 10 or 1 to 5 residues. An example of aterminal insertion includes a fusion of a signal sequence, whetherheterologous or homologous to the host cell, to the N-terminus of theTNF binding protein to facilitate the secretion of mature TNF bindingprotein from recombinant hosts.

[0068] The third group of variants are those in which at least one aminoacid residue in the TNF binding protein, and preferably, only one, hasbeen removed and a different residue inserted in its place. Suchsubstitutions preferably are made in accordance with the following Table1 when it is desired to modulate finely the characteristics of a hormonereceptor molecule. TABLE 1 Exemplary Original Residue Substitutions Alagly; ser Arg lys Asn gln; his Asp glu Cys ser Gln asn Glu asp Gly ala;pro His asn; gln Ile leu; val Leu ile; val Lys arg; gln; glu Met leu;tyr; ile Phe met; leu; tyr Ser thr Thr ser Trp tyr Tyr trp; phe Val ile;leu

[0069] Substantial changes in functional or immunological identity aremade by selecting substitutions that are less conservative than those inTable 1, i.e., selecting residues that differ more significantly intheir effect on maintaining (a) the structure of the polypeptidebackbone in the area of the substitution, for example, as a sheet orhelical conformation, (b) the charge or hydrophobicity of the moleculeat the target site, or (c) the bulk of the side chain. The substitutionsthat in general are expected to those in which (a) glycine and/orproline is substituted by another amino acid or is deleted or inserted;(b) a hydrophilic residue, e.g., seryl or threonyl, is substituted for(or by) a hydrophobic residue, e.g., leucyl, isoleucyl, phenylalanyl,valyl, or alanyl; (c) a cysteine residue is substituted for (or by) anyother residue; (d) a residue having an electropositive side chain, e.g.,lysyl, arginyl, or histidyl, is substituted for (or by) a residue havingan electronegative charge, e.g., glutamyl or aspartyl; or (e) a residuehaving a bulky side chain, e.g., phenylalanine, is substituted for (orby) one not having such a side chain, e.g., glycine.

[0070] Most deletions and insertions, and substitutions in particular,are not expected to produce radical changes in the characteristics ofthe TNF binding protein. However, when it is difficult to predict theexact effect of the substitution, deletion, or insertion in advance ofdoing so, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the effect will beevaluated by routine screening assays. For example, a variant typicallyis made by site-specific mutagenesis of the TNF binding protein-encodingnucleic acid, expression of the variant nucleic acid in recombinant cellculture, and, optionally, purification from the cell culture, forexample, by immunoaffinity adsorption on a polyclonal anti-TNF bindingprotein column (to absorb the variant by binding it to at least oneremaining immune epitope).

[0071] The activity of the cell lysate or purified TNF binding proteinvariant is then screened in a suitable screening assay for the desiredcharacteristic. For example, a change in the binding affinity for TNF orimmunological character of the TNF binding protein, such as affinity fora given antibody, is measured by a competitive type immunoassay. Changesin immunomodulation activity are measured by the appropriate assay.Modifications of such protein properties as redox or thermal stability,hydrophobicity, susceptibility to proteolytic degradation or thetendency to aggregate with carriers or into multimers are assayed bymethods well known to the ordinarily skilled artisan.

[0072] TNF-BP (or the functional derivatives, variants, and activefragments thereof) may be used for the prophylactic and therapeutictreatment of the human or animal body in indications where TNF-α has aharmful effect. Such diseases include in particular inflammatory andinfectious and parasitic diseases or states of shock in which endogenousTNF-α is released, as well as cachexia, GVHR, ARDS (Adult RespiratoryDistress Symptom) and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis,etc. Also included are pathological conditions which may occur as sideeffects of treatment with TNF-α, particularly at high doses, such assevere hypotension or disorders of the central nervous system.

[0073] In view of its TNF binding properties, tNF-BP is also suitable asa diagnostic agent for determining TNF-α and/or TNF-β, e.g., as one ofthe components in radioimmunoassays or enzyme immunoassays, optionallytogether with antibodies against TNF.

[0074] In view of its properties, this protein is a pharmaco-logicallyuseful active substance which cannot be obtained in sufficientquantities from natural sources using protein-chemical methods.

[0075] There was therefore a need to produce this protein (or relatedproteins with the ability to bind TNF) by recombinant methods in orderthat it could be made available in sufficient amounts for therapeuticuse. The phrase “ability to bind TNF” within the scope of the presentinvention means the ability of a protein to bind to TNF-α in such a waythat TNF-α is prevented from binding to the functional part of thereceptor and the activity of TNF-α in humans or animals is inhibited orprevented altogether. This definition also includes the ability of aprotein to bind to other proteins, e.g. to TNF-β, and inhibit theireffect.

[0076] The aim of the present invention was to provide the DNA whichcodes for TNF-BP, in order to make it possible, on the basis of thisDNA, to produce recombinant DNA molecules by means of which suitablehost organisms can be transformed, with the intention of producingTNF-BP or functional derivatives and fragments thereof.

[0077] Within the scope of this objective, it was also necessary toestablish whether TNF-BP is the soluble part of a TNF receptor. Thisassumption was confirmed, thus providing the basis for clarification ofthe receptor sequence.

[0078] Another objective within the scope of the present invention wasto prepare the cDNA coding for a TNF receptor, for the purpose ofproducing recombinant human TNF receptor.

[0079] The presence of a specific receptor with a high affinity forTNF-α on various cell types was shown by a number of working groups.Recently, the isolation and preliminary characterization of a TNF-αreceptor was reported for the first time (Stauber, G. B., et al., J.Biol. Chem. 263:19098-19104 (1988)). Since the binding of radioactivelylabelled TNF-α can be reversed by an excess of TNF-β (Aggarwal, B. B.,et al., Nature 318:655-667 (1985)), it was proposed that TNF-α and TNF-βshare a common receptor. On the other hand, since it was shown thatcertain cell types which respond to TNF-α are wholly or partlyinsensitive to TNF-β (Locksley, R. M., et al., J. Imunol. 139:1891-1895(1987)), the existence of a common receptor was thrown into doubt again.

[0080] By contrast, recent results on the binding properties of TNF-β toreceptors appear to confirm the theory of a common receptor (Stauber, G.B., et al., J. Biol. Chem. 264:3573-3576 (1989)), and this studyproposes that there are differences between TNF-α and TNF-β in theirinteraction with the receptor or in addition with respect to the eventswhich occur in the cell after the ligand-receptor interaction. Lately,there has been a report of another TNF-binding protein which is presumedto be the soluble form of a different TNF receptor (Engelmann et al., J.Biol. Chem. 265:1531-1536 (1990)). The availability of the DNA codingfor a TNF receptor is the prerequisite for the production of recombinantreceptor and consequently makes it much easier to carry out comparativeinvestigations on different types of cell regarding their TNF-α and/orTNF-β receptors or the reactions triggered by the binding of TNF to thereceptor in the cell. It also makes it possible to clarify thethree-dimensional structure of the receptor and hence provide theprerequisite for a rational design for the development of agonists andantagonists for the TNF activity.

[0081] The efforts to solve the problem of the invention started fromthe finding that major difficulties are occasionally encountered whensearching through cDNA libraries using hybridizing probes derived fromamino acid sequences of short peptides, on account of the degenerationof the genetic code. In addition, this procedure is made more difficultwhen the researcher does not know in which tissue a particular protein,e.g. TNF-BP, is synthesized. In thts case, should the method fail, it isnot always possible to tell with any certainty whether the cause of thefailure was the choice of an unsuitable cDNA library or the insufficientspecificity of the hybridization probes.

[0082] Therefore, the following procedure was used according to theinvention in order to obtain the DNA coding for TNF-BP:

[0083] The cDNA library used was a library of the fibrosarcoma cell lineHS913 T which had been induced with TNFα and was present in λ gt11. Inorder to obtain λ DNA with TNF-BP sequences from this library, the highdegree of sensitivity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR (Saiki, R.K., Science 239:487-491 (1988))) was used. (Using this method it ispossible to obtain, from an entire cDNA library, an unknown DNA sequenceflanked by oligonucleotides which have been designed on the basis ofknown amino acid partial sequences and used as primers. A longer DNAfragment of this kind can subsequently be used as a hybridization probe,e.g. in order to isolate cDNA clones, particularly the original cDNAclone).

[0084] On the basis of the N-terminal amino acid sequence (mainsequence) and amino acid sequences of tryptic peptides obtained fromhighly purified TNF-BP, hybridization probes were prepared. Using theseprobes, a cDNA which constitutes part of the cDNA coding for TNF-BP wasobtained by PCR from the cDNA library HS913T.

[0085] This cDNA has the following nucleotide sequence: CAG GGG AAA TATATT CAC CCT CAA AAT AAT TCG ATT TGC TGT ACC AAG TGC CAC AAA GGA ACC TACTTG TAC AAT GAC TGT CCA GGC CCG GGG CAG GAT ACG GAC TGC AGG GAG TGT GAGAGC GGC TCC TTC ACA GCC TCA GAA AAC AAC AAG .

[0086] This DNA is one of a number of possible variants which aresuitable for hybridizing with TNF-BP DNAs or TNF-BP-RNAs (these variantsinclude for example those DNA molecules which are obtained by PCRamplification with the aid of primers, wherein the nucleotide sequencedoes not coincide precisely with the desired sequence, possibly as aresult of restriction sites provided for cloning purposes or because ofamino acids which were not clearly identified in the amino acid sequenceanalysis). “TNF-BP-DNAs” and “TNF-BP-RNAs” indicate nucleic acids whichcode for TNF-BP or related proteins with the ability to bind TNF orwhich contain a sequence coding for such a protein.

[0087] TNF-BP-DNAs (or TNF-BP-RNAs) also include cDNAs derived frommRNAs which are formed by alternative splicing (or these mRNAsthemselves). The phrase “alternative splicing” means the removal ofintrons, using splice acceptor and/or splice donor sites which aredifferent from the same mRNA precursor. The mRNAs thus formed differfrom one another by the total or partial presence or absence of certainexon sequences, and in some cases there may be a shift in the readingframe.

[0088] The cDNA (or variants thereof) initially obtained according tothe invention, containing some of the sequence coding for TNF-BP, canthus be used as a hybridization probe in order to obtain cDNA clonescontaining TNF-BP DNAs from cDNA libraries. It may also be used as ahybridization probe for mRNA preparations, for isolating TNF-BP RNAs andfor producing concentrated cDNA libraries therefrom, for example, toallow much simpler and more efficient screening. A further field ofapplication is the isolation of the desired DNAs from genomic DNAlibraries using these DNAs as hybridization probes.

[0089] The DNA defined hereinbefore (or a variant thereof) is capable ofhybridizing with DNAs (or RNAs) which code for TNF-BP or contain thesequence which codes for TNF-BP. Using this DNA as probe, it is alsopossible to obtain cDNAs which code for proteins, the processing ofwhich yields TNF-BP. The term “processing” means the splitting off ofpartial sequences in vivo. This might mean, at the N-terminus the signalsequence and/or-other sequences and possibly also at the C-terminus, thetransmembrane and cytoplasmic region of the receptor. Using thishybridization signal it is therefore possible to search through suitablecDNA libraries to look for any cDNA which contains the entire sequencecoding for a TNF receptor (if necessary, this operation may be carriedout in several steps).

[0090] According to the invention, the cDNA of the sequence definedhereinbefore, which had been obtained by PCR from the cDNA library ofthe TNF-α induced fibrosarcoma cell line HS913 T (in λ gt11), was usedto search through the cDNA library once more, the lambda DNA was excisedfrom the hybridizing clones, subcloned and sequenced. A 1334 base longcDNA insert was obtained which contains the sequence coding for TNF-BP.

[0091] Thus, first of all DNAs were prepared, coding for a polypeptidecapable of binding TNF, or for a polypeptide in which this TNF bindingprotein is a partial sequence. These DNAs also include DNAs of the kindwhich code for parts of these polypeptides.

[0092] The complete nucleotide sequence of the longest c D N A insertobtained is shown in FIG. 1.

[0093] This nucleotide sequence has a continuous open reading framebeginning with base 213 up to the end of the 1334 bp long cDNA insert.Since there is a stop codon (TAG) in the same reading frame 4 codonsbefore the potential translation start codon ATG (213-215), it wasassumed that the start codon is actually the start of translation usedin vivo.

[0094] A comparison of the amino acid sequence derived from thenucleotide sequence with the amino acid sequences determined from theamino terminal end of TNF-BP and tryptic peptides, shows a high degreeof conformity. This means that the isolated cONA contains the sequencecoding for authentic TNF-BP.

[0095] Starting from the N-terminus, the first sequence which showsconformity with a tryptic cleavage peptide sequence is the sequence fromfraction 12 (Leu-Val-Pro-. . .), which had also been obtained as asubsidiary sequence in the analysis of the N-terminus of TNF-BP. ThisN-terminal leucine corresponds to the 30th amino acid in the cDNAsequence. Since the preceding section of 29 amino acids has a stronglyhydrophobic nature and TNF-BP is a secreted protein, it can be concludedthat these 29 amino acids constitute the signal peptide required for thesecretion process, which is split off during secretion (designatedS1-S29 in FIG. 1). The amino acid sequence obtained as the main sequencein the N-terminal analysis of TNF-BP corresponds to the amino acidsbeginning with Asp-12 in the cDNA sequence. This aspartic acid groupdirectly follows the basic dipeptide Lys-Arg. Since a very large numberof proteins are cleaved proteolytically in vivo after this dipeptide, itcan be assumed that TNF-BP with N-terminal Asp is not formed directly bythe processing of a precursor in the secretion process, but that theN-terminal 11 amino acids are split off from the processed protein at alater time by extracellular proteases. The carboxyterminal end of TNF-BPhad been determined as Ile-Glu-Asn (C-terminal analysis; tryptic peptidefraction 27: amino acids 159-172, tryptic peptide fraction 21: aminoacids 165-172), Asn corresponding to position 172 in the cDNA sequence.

[0096] Potential N-glycosylation sites of general formulaAsn-Xaa-Ser/Thr, in which Xaa may be any amino acid other than proline,are located at positions 25-27 (Asn-Asn-Ser), 116-118 (Asn-Cys-Ser) and122-124 (Asn-Gly-Thr) of the TNF-BP cDNA sequence. (The fact that Asn-25is glycosylated is clear from the fact that Asn could not be identifiedin the sequencing of the corresponding tryptic cleavage peptide at thissite.)

[0097] Analysis of the nucleotide sequence or the amino acid sequencederived therefrom in conjunction with the protein-chemicalinvestigations carried out shows that TNF-BP is a glycosylatedpolypeptide with 172 amino acids, which is converted by proteolyticcleaving after the 11th amino acid into a glycoprotein with 161 aminoacids. The following Table shows the tryptic peptides sequenced and thecorresponding amino acid sequences derived from the cDNA sequence:Fraction Amino acids 12 1-8  1 12-19  8 20-32 14/I 36-48 20 36-53 1154-67 (Amino acids 66-67 had not been correctly determined on thepeptide) 14/II 79-91 26 133-146  5 147-158 27 159-172

[0098] The cDNA obtained is the prerequisite for the preparation ofrecombinant TNF-BP.

[0099] As already mentioned, the cDNA initially isolated according tothe invention does not contain the stop codon which could have beenexpected from analysis of the C-terminus after the codon for Asn-172,but the open reading frame is continued. The region between Val-183 andMet-204 is strongly hydrophobic by nature. This hydrophobic region of 22amino acids followed by a portion containing positively charged aminoacids (Arg-206, Arg-209) has the typical features of a transmembranedomain which anchors proteins in the cell membrane. The protein fractionfollowing in the C-terminus direction on the other hand is stronglyhydrophilic.

[0100] The hydrophobicity profile is shown in FIG. 2 (the hydrophobicityplot was produced using the Mac Molly program (made by Soft GeneBerlin); the window size for calculating the values was 11 amino acids.Hydrophobic regions correspond to positive values and hydrophilicregions to negative values on the ordinates. The abscissa shows thenumber of amino acids beginning with the start methionine S1).

[0101] The protein structure shows that the DNA coding for the solubleTNF-BP secreted is part of a DNA coding for a larger protein: thisprotein has the feature of a protein anchored in the cell membrane,contains TNF-BP in a manner typical of extracellular domains and has asubstantial portion which is typical of cytoplasmatic domains. SolubleTNF-BP is obviously obtained from this membrane-bound form byproteolytic cleaving just outside the transmembrane domain.

[0102] The structure of the protein coded by the cDNA obtained inconjunction with the ability of TNF-BP to bind TNF confirms theassumption that TNF-BP is part of a cellular surface receptor for TNFthe extracellular domains of which, responsible for the binding of TNF,can be cleaved proteolytically and retrieved in the form of the solubleTNF-BP. (The possibility should not be ruled out that, with regard tothe operating capacity of the receptor, this protein may possibly beassociated with one or more other proteins).

[0103] For the purposes of the production of TNF-BP on a larger scale,it is advantageous not to start from the whole cDNA, since the need tocleave TNF-BP from that part of the protein which represents themembrane-bound part of the TNF receptor must be borne in mind. Rather,as mentioned hereinbefore, a translation stop codon is expedientlyinserted after the codon for Asn-172 by controlled mutagenesis in orderto prevent protein synthesis going beyond the C-terminal end of TNF-BP.With the cDNA which is initially obtained according to the invention andwhich represents a partial sequence of the DNA coding for a TNFreceptor, it is possible to obtain the complete receptor sequence byamplifying the missing 3′-end, e.g. by means of modified PCR(RACE=“rapid amplification of cDNA ends” (Frohman, M. A., et al., Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. 85:8998-9002 (1988)), with the aid of a primerconstructed on the basis of a sequence located as far as possible in thedirection of the 3′-end of the cDNA present. An alternative method isthe conventional screening of the cDNA library with the available cDNAor parts thereof as probe.

[0104] According to the invention, first of all the rat TNF receptorcDNA was isolated and with a partial sequence therefrom the completehuman TNF receptor cDNA was obtained and brought to expression.

[0105] The invention relates to a human TNF receptor and the DNA codingfor it. This definition also includes DNAs which code for C- and/orN-terminally shortened, e.g. processed forms or for modified forms (e.g.by changes at proteolytic cleavage sites, glycosylation sites orspecific domain regions) or for fragments, e.g. the various domains, ofthe TNF receptor. These DNAs may be used in conjunction with the controlsequences needed for expression as a constituent of recombinant DNAmolecules, to which the present invention also relates, for transformingprokaryotic or eukaryotic host organisms. On the one hand this createsthe prerequisite for preparing the TNF receptor or modifications orfragments thereof in larger quantities by the recombinant method, inorder to make it possible for example to clarify the three-dimensionalstructure of the receptor. On the other hand, these DNAs can be used totransform higher eukaryotic cells in order to allow a study of themechanisms and dynamics of the TNF/receptor interaction, signaltransmission or the relevance of the various receptor domains orsections thereof.

[0106] The present invention encompasses the expression of the desiredTNF binding protein in either prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells. Preferredeukaryotic hosts include yeast (especially Saccharomyces), fungi(especially Aspergillus), mammalian cells (such as, for example, humanor primate cells) either in vivo, or in tissue culture.

[0107] Yeast and mammalian cells are preferred hosts of the presentinvention. The use of such hosts provides substantial advantages in thatthey can also carry out post-translational peptide modificationsincluding glycosylation. A number of recombinant DNA strategies existwhich utilize strong promoter sequences and high copy number of plasmidswhich can be utilized for production of the desired proteins in thesehosts.

[0108] Yeast recognize leader sequences on cloned mammalian geneproducts and secrete peptides bearing leader sequences (i.e.,pre-peptides). Mammalian cells provide post-translational modificationsto protein molecules including correct folding or glycosylation atcorrect sites.

[0109] Mammalian cells which may be useful as hosts include cells offibroblast origin such as VERO or CH0-K1, and their derivatives. For amammalian host, several possible vector systems are available for theexpression of the desired TNF binding protein. A wide variety oftranscriptional and translational regulatory sequences may be employed,depending upon the nature of the host. The transcriptional andtranslational regulatory signals may be derived from viral sources, suchas adenovirus, bovine papilloma virus, simian virus, or the like, wherethe regulatory signals are associated with a particular gene which has ahigh level of expression. Alternatively, promoters from mammalianexpression products, such as actin, collagen, myosin, etc., may beemployed. Transcriptional initiation regulatory signals may be selectedwhich allow for repression or activation, so that expression of thegenes can be modulated. Of interest are regulatory signals which aretemperature-sensitive so that by varying the temperature, expression canbe repressed or initiated, or are subject to chemical regulation, e.g.,metabolite.

[0110] The expression of the desired TNF binding protein in eukaryotichosts requires the use of eukaryotic regulatory regions. Such regionswill, in general, include a promoter region sufficient to direct theinitiation of RNA synthesis. Preferred eukaryotic promoters include thepromoter of the mouse metallothionein I gene (Hamer, D., et al., J. Mol.Appl. Gen. 1:273-288 (1982)); the TK promoter of Herpes virus (McKnight,S., Cell 31:355-365 (1982)); the SV40 early promoter (Benoist, C., etal., Nature (London) 290:304-310 (1981)); the yeast qal4 gene promoter(Johnston, S. A., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 79:6971-6975(1982); Silver, P. A., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 81:5951-5955(1984)).

[0111] As is widely known, translation of eukaryotic mRNA is initiatedat the codon which encodes the first methionine. For this reason, it ispreferable to ensure that the linkage between a eukaryotic promoter anda DNA sequence which encodes the desired receptor molecule does notcontain any intervening codons which are capable of encoding amethionine (i.e., AUG). The presence of such codons results either inthe formation of a fusion protein (if the AUG codon is in the samereading frame as the desired receptor molecule encoding DNA sequence) ora frame-shift mutation (if the AUG codon is not in the same readingframe as the desired TNF binding protein encoding sequence).

[0112] The expression of the TNF binding proteins can also beaccomplished in procaryotic cells. Preferred prokaryotic hosts includebacteria such as E. coli, Bacillus, Streptomyces, Pseudomonas,Salmonella, Serratia, etc. The most preferred prokaryotic host is E.coli. Bacterial hosts of particular interest include E. coli K12 strain294 (ATCC 31446), E. coli X1776 (ATCC 31537), E. coli W3110 (F⁻,lambdas⁻, prototrophic (ATCC 27325)), and other enterobacteria (such asSalmonella tyhimurium or Serratia marcescens), and various Pseudomonasspecies. The prokaryotic host must be compatible with the replicon andcontrol sequences in the expression plasmid.

[0113] To express the desired TNF binding protein fn a prokaryo-tic cell(such as, for example, E. coli, B. subtilis, Pseudomonas, Streptomyces,etc.), it is necessary to operably link the desired receptor moleculeencoding sequence to a functional prokaryotic promoter. Such promotersmay be either constitutive or, more preferably, regulatable (i.e.,inducible or derepressible). Examples of constitutive promoters includethe int promoter of bacteriophage λ, and the bla promoter of theβ-lactamase gene of pBR322, etc. Examples of inducible prokaryoticpromoters include the major right and left promoters of bacteriophageλ(PL and PR), the trp, recA, lacZ, lacI, gal, and tac promoters of E.coli, the α-amylase (Ulmanen, I., et al., J. Bacteriol. 162:176-182(1985)), the σ-28-specific promoters of B. subtilis (Gilman, M. Z., etal., Gene 32:11-20 (1984)), the promoters of the bacteriophages ofBacillus (Gryczan, T. J., In: The Molecular Biology of the Bacilli,Academic Press, Inc., NY (1982)), and Streptomyces promoters (Ward, J.M., et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 203:468-478 (1986)). Prokaryotic promotersare reviewed by Glick, B. R., (J. Ind. Microbiol. 1:277-282 (1987));Cenatiempo, Y. (Biochimie 68:505-516 (1986)); and Gottesman, S. (Ann.Rev. Genet. 18:415-442 (1984)).

[0114] Proper expression in a prokaryotic cell also requires thepresence of a ribosome binding site upstream from the gene-encodingsequence. Such ribosome binding sites are disclosed, for example, byGold, L., et al. (Ann. Rev. Microbiol. 35:365-404 (1981)).

[0115] The desired TNF binding protein encoding sequence: and anoperably linked promoter may be introduced into a recipient prokaryoticor eukaryotic cell either as a non-replicating DNA (or RNA) molecule,which may either be a linear molecule or, more preferably, a closedcovalent circular molecule. Since such molecules are incapable ofautonomous replication, the expression of the desired receptor moleculemay occur through the transient expression of the introduced sequence.Alternatively, permanent expression may occur through the integration ofthe introduced sequence into the host chromosome.

[0116] In one embodiment, a vector is employed which is capable ofintegrating the desired gene sequences into the host cell chromosome.Cells which have stably integrated the introduced DNA into theirchromosomes can be selected by also introducing one or more markerswhich allow for selection of host cells which contain the expressionvector. The marker may complement an auxotrophy in the host (such asleu2, or ura3, which are common yeast auxotrophic markers), biocideresistance, e.g., antibiotics, or heavy metals, such as copper, or thelike. The selectable marker gene can either be directly linked to theDNA gene sequences to be expressed, or introduced into the same cell byco-transfection.

[0117] In a preferred embodiment, the introduced sequence will beincorporated into a plasmid or viral vector capable of autonomousreplication in the recipient host. Any of a wide variety of vectors maybe employed for this purpose. Factors of importance in selecting aparticular plasmid or viral vector include: the ease with whichrecipient cells that contain the vector may be recognized and selectedfrom those recipient cells which do not contain the vector; the numberof copies of the vector which are desired in a particular host; andwhether it is desirable to be able to “shuttle” the vector between hostcells of different species.

[0118] Any of a series of yeast gene expression systems can be utilized.Examples of such expression vectors include the yeast 2-micron circle,the expression plasmids YEP13, YCP and YRP, etc., or their derivatives.Such plasmids are well known in the art (Botstein, D., et al., MiamiWntr. Symp. 19:265-274 (1982); Broach, J. R., In: The Molecular Biologyof the Yeast Saccharomyces: Life Cycle and Inheritance, Cold SpringHarbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., p. 445-470 (1981); Broach,J. R., Cell 28:203-204 (1982)).

[0119] For a mammalian host, several possible vector systems areavailable for expression. One class of vectors utilize DNA elementswhich provide autonomously replicating extra-chromosomal plasmids,derived from animal viruses such as bovine papilloma virus, polyomavirus, adenovirus, or SV40 virus. A second class of vectors relies uponthe integration of the desired gene sequences into the host chromosome.Cells which have stably integrated the introduced DNA into theirchromosomes may be selected by also introducing one or more markerswhich allow selection of host cells which contain the expression vector.The marker may provide for prototropy to an auxotrophic host, biocideresistance, e.g., antibiotics, or heavy metals, such as copper or thelike. The selectable marker gene can either be directly linked to theDNA sequences to be expressed, or introduced into the same cell byco-transformation. Additional elements may also be needed for optimalsynthesis of mRNA. These elements may include splice signals, as well astranscription promoters, enhancers, and termination signals. The cDNAexpression vectors incorporating such elements include those describedby Okayama, H., Mol. Cell. Biol. 3:280 (1983), and others.

[0120] Preferred prokaryotic vectors include plasmids such as thosecapable of replication in E. coli such as, for example, pBR322, ColE1,pSC101, pACYC 184, πVX. Such plasmids are, for example, disclosed byManiatis, T., et al. (In: Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, ColdSpring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1982)). Bacillus plasmidsinclude pC194, pC221, pT127, etc. Such plasmids are disclosed byGryczan, T. (In: The Molecular Biology of the Bacilli, Academic Press,NY (1982), pp. 307-329). Suitable Streptomyces plasmids include pIJIO1(Kendall, K. J., et al., J. Bacteriol. 169:4177-4183 (1987)), andStreptomyces bacteriophages such as øC31 (Chater, K. F., et al., In:Sixth International Symposium on Actinomycetales Biology, AkademiaiKaido, Budapest, Hungary (1986), pp. 45-54). Pseudomonas plasmids arereviewed by John, J. F., et al. (Rev. Infect. Dis. 8:693-704 (1986)),and Izaki, K. (Jpn. J. Bacteriol. 33:729-742 (1978)).

[0121] Once the vector or DNA sequence containing the constructs hasbeen prepared for expression, the DNA constructs may be introduced intoan appropriate host. Various techniques may be employed, such asprotoplast fusion, calcium phosphate precipitation, electroporation orother conventional techniques. After the fusion, the cells are grown inmedia and screened for appropriate activities. Expression of thesequence results in the production of the TNF binding protein.

[0122] The TNF binding proteins of the invention may be isolated andpurified from the above-described recombinant molecules in accordancewith conventional methods, such as extraction, precipitation,chromatography, affinity chromatography, electrophoresis, or the like.By the term “substantially pure” is intended TNF binding proteins whichare substantially one major band by SDS-PAGE polyacrylamideelectrophoresis and which contain only minor amounts of other proteinswhich would normally contaminate a whole cell lysate containing nativeTNF receptor protein, as evidenced by the presence of other minor bands.

[0123] The recombinant TNF receptor (or fragments or functionalderivatives thereof) can be used to investigate substances for theirinteraction with TNF or the TNF receptor or their influence on thesignal transmission induced by TNF. Such screenings (usingproteins/fragments/variants or suitably transformed higher eukaryoticcells) create the prerequisite for the identification of substanceswhich substitute TNF, inhibit the bonding thereof to the receptor orthose which are capable of blocking or intensifying the mechanism ofsignal transmission initiated by TNF.

[0124] One possible method of discovering agonists and antagonists ofTNF or the TNF receptor is in the establishment of high capacityscreening. A suitable cell line, preferably one which does not expressendogenous human TNF receptor, is transformed with a vector whichcontains the DNA coding for a functional TNF receptor and optionallymodified from the natural sequence. The activity of agonists orantagonists can be investigated in screening of this kind by monitoringthe response to the interaction of the substance with the receptor usinga suitable reporter (altered enzyme activity, e.g. protein kinase C, orgene activation, e.g. manganese superoxide dismutase, NF-KB).Investigations into the mechanisms and dynamics of the TNF/receptorinteraction, signal transmission or the role of the receptor domains inthis respect may also be carried out, for example, by combining DNAfractions coding for the extracellular domain of the TNF receptor (orparts thereof) with DNA fractions coding for various transmembranedomains and/or various cytoplasmatic domains and bringing them toexpression in eukaryotic cells. The hybrid expression products which maybe obtained in this way may be capable of giving conclusive informationas to the relevance of the various receptor domains, on the basis of anychanges in the properties for signal transduction, so that targetedscreening is made easier.

[0125] The availability of the cDNA coding for the TNF receptor orfractions thereof is the prerequisite for obtaining the genomic DNA.Under stringent conditions, a DNA library is screened and the clonesobtained are investigated to see whether they contain the regulatorysequence elements needed for gene expression in addition to the codingregions (e.g. checking for promoter function by fusion with codingregions of suitable reporter genes). Methods for screening DNA librariesunder stringent conditions are taught, for example, in EPA 0 174 143,incorporated by reference herein. Obtaining the genomic DNA sequencemakes it possible to investigate the regulatory sequences situated inthe area which does not code for the TNF receptor, particularly in the5′-flanking region, for any possible interaction with known substanceswhich modulate gene expression, e.g. transcription factors or steroids,or possibly discover new substances which might have a specific effecton the expression of this gene. The results of such investigationsprovide the basis for the targeted use of such substances for modulatingTNF receptor expression and hence for directly influencing the abilityof the cells to interact with TNF. As a result, the specific reactionwith the ligands and the resulting effects can be suppressed.

[0126] The scope of the present invention also includes DNAs which codefor subtypes of the TNF receptor or its soluble forms, which maypossibly have properties different from those of the present TNFreceptor. These are expression products which are formed by alternativesplicing and have modified structures in certain areas, e.g. structureswhich can bring about a change in the affinity and specificity for theligand (TNF-α/TNF-β) or a change in terms of the nature and efficiencyof signal transmission.

[0127] With the aid of the cDNA coding for the TNF receptor it ispossible to obtain nucleic acids which hybridize with the cDNA orfragments thereof under conditions of low stringency and code for apolypeptide capable of binding TNF or contain the sequence coding forsuch a polypeptide.

[0128] According to a further aspect the invention relates torecombinant TNF-BP, preferably in a secretable form, which constitutesthe soluble part of the TNF receptor according to the invention, and theDNA coding for it. By introducing a DNA construct containing thesequence coding for TNF-BP with a sequence coding for a signal peptideunder the control of a suitable promoter into suitable host organisms,especially eukaryotic and preferably higher eukaryotic cells, it ispossible to produce TNF-BP which is secreted into the cell supernatant.

[0129] If a signal peptide is used with regard to the secretion of theprotein, the DNA coding for the signal peptide is conveniently insertedbefore the codon for Asp-12 in order to obtain a uniform product.Theoretically, any signal peptide is suitable which guarantees secretionof the mature protein in the corresponding host organism. If necessary,the signal sequence can also be placed in front of the triplet codingfor Leu-1; in this case, it may be necessary to separate the form ofTNF-BP produced by splitting off the peptide which consists of 11 aminoacids at the N-terminus, from the unprocessed or incompletely processedTNF-BP in an additional purification step.

[0130] Since the cDNA after the codon for Asn-172, which represents theC-terminus on the basis of C-terminal analysis, does not contain a stopcodon, a translation stop codon is expediently introduced, with respectto the expression of TNF-BP, after the codon for Asn-172, by controlledmutagenesis.

[0131] The DNA coding for TNF-BP can be modified by mutation,transposition, deletion, addition or truncation provided that DNAsmodified in this way code for (poly)peptides capable of binding TNF.Such modifications may consist, for example, of changing one or more ofthe potential glycosylation sites which are not necessary for thebiological activity, e.g. by replacing the Asn codon by a triplet whichcodes for a different amino acid. With a view to maintaining thebiological activity, modifications which result in a change in thedisulfide bridges (e.g. a reduction in their number) may also be carriedout.

[0132] The DNA molecules referred to thus constitute the prerequisitefor constructing recombinant DNA molecules, which are also an object ofthe invention. With recombinant DNA molecules of this kind in the formof expression vectors containing the DNA, optionally suitably modified,which codes for a protein with TNF-BP activity, preferably with apreceding signal sequence, and the control sequences needed forexpression of the protein, it is possible to transform and cultivatesuitable host organisms and obtain the protein.

[0133] Just like any modifications to the DNA sequence, host cells ororganisms suitable for expression are selected particularly with regardto the biological activity of the protein in binding TNF. Furthermore,the criteria which are conventionally applied to the preparation ofrecombinant proteins such as compatibility with the chosen vector,processability, isolation of the protein, expression characteristics,safety and cost aspects are involved in the decision as to the hostorganism. The choice of a suitable vector arises from the host intendedfor transformation. In principle, all vectors which replicate andexpress the DNAs (or modifications thereof) coding for TNF-BP accordingto the invention are suitable.

[0134] With respect to the biological activity of the protein, in theexpression of the DNA coding for TNF-BP, particular account should betaken of any relevance of the criteria, found in the natural protein, ofglycosylation and a high proportion of cysteine groups to the propertyof binding TNF. Conveniently, therefore, eukaryotes, particularlysuitable expression systems of higher eukaryotes, are used for theexpression.

[0135] Within the scope of the present invention, both transient andpermanent expression of TNF-BP were demonstrated in eukaryotic cells.

[0136] The recombinant TNF-BP according to the invention and suitablemodifications thereof which have the capacity to bind TNF can be used inthe prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of humans and animals forindications in which a harmful effect of TNF-α occurs. Since TNF-BP hasalso been shown to have a TNF-β inhibiting activity, it (or theassociated or modified polypeptides) can be used in suitable doses,possibly in a form modified to give a greater affinity for TNF-β, toinhibit the effect of TNF-β in the body.

[0137] The invention therefore also relates to pharmaceuticalpreparations containing a quantity of recombinant TNF-BP whicheffectively inhibits the biological activity of TNF-α and/or TNF-β or arelated polypeptide capable of binding TNF.

[0138] Pharmaceutical preparations are particularly suitable forparenteral administration for those indications in which TNF displays aharmful effect, e.g. in the form of lyophilized preparations orsolutions. These contain TNF-BP or a therapeutically active functionalderivative thereof in a therapeutically active amount, optionallytogether with physiologically acceptable additives such as stabilizers,buffers, preservatives, etc.

[0139] The dosage depends particularly on the indication and thespecific form of administration, e.g. whether it is administered locallyor systemically. The size of the individual doses will be determined onthe basis of an individual assessment of the particular illness, takinginto account such factors as the patient's general health, anamnesis,age, weight, sex, etc. It is essential when determining thetherapeutically effective dose to take into account the quantity of TNFsecreted which is responsible for the disease as well as the quantity ofendogenous TNF-BP. Basically, it can be assumed that, for effectivetreatment of a disease triggered by TNF, at least the same molar amountof TNF-BP is required as the quantity of TNF secreted, and possibly amultiple excess might be needed.

[0140] More specifically, the objective of the invention is achieved asfollows:

[0141] The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the highly purified TNF-BPand the amino acid sequences of peptides obtained by tryptic digestionof the protein were determined.

[0142] Moreover, the C-terminus was determined by carboxy-peptidase Pdigestion, derivatization of the amino acids split off andchromatographic separation. From the peptide sequences obtained bytryptit digestion, with a view to their use in PCR for the preparationof oligonucleotides, regions were selected from the N-terminus on theone hand and from a tryptic peptide on the other hand such that thecomplexity of mixed oligonucleotides for hybridization with CDNA is keptto a minimum. A set of mixed oligonucleotides were prepared on the basisof these two regions, the set derived from the region located at theN-terminus being synthesized in accordance with mRNA, whilst the setderived from the tryptic peptide was synthesized in reverse, so as to becomplementary to the mRNA. In order to facilitate the subsequent cloningof a segment amplified with PCR, the set of oligonucleotides derivedfrom the tryptic peptide was given a BamHI restriction site. Then λ DNAwas isolated from the TNF-α induced fibrosarcoma cDNA library and fromthis a TNF-BP sequence was amplified using PCR. The resulting fragmentwas cloned and sequenced; it comprises 158 nucleotides and contains thesequence coding for the tryptic peptide 20 between the two fragments ofsequence originating from the primer oligonucleotides.

[0143] This DNA fragment was subsequently radioactively labelled andused as a probe for isolating cDNA clones from the fibrosarcoma library.The procedure involved first hybridizing plaques with the probe,separating phages from hybridizing plaques and obtaining A DNAtherefrom. Individual cDNA clones were subcloned and sequenced; two ofthe characterized clones contained the sequence coding for TNF-BP.

[0144] This sequence constitutes part of the sequence coding for a TNFreceptor.

[0145] After shortening of the 5′-non-coding region and insertion of astop codon after the codon for the C-terminal amino acid of the naturalTNF-BP, the cDNA was-inserted in a suitable expression plasmid,eukaryotic cells were transformed therewith and the expression of TNF-BPwas demonstrated using ELISA.

[0146] The still outstanding 3′-region of the TNF receptor was obtainedby searching through a rat brain cDNA library from the rat glia tumourcell line C6 using a TNF-BP probe and isolating all the cDNA coding forthe rat TNF receptor.

[0147] The fraction of this cDNA at the 3′-end, which was assumed tocorrespond to the missing 3′-region behind the EcoRI cutting site of thehuman TNF receptor, was used as a probe to search through the HS913TcDNA library once more. A clone was obtained which contains all the DNAcoding for the TNF receptor.

[0148] After shortening of the 5′-non-coding region, the cDNA wasinserted in an expression plasmid and the expression of human TNFreceptor was demonstrated in eukaryotic cells by means of the binding ofradioactively labelled TNF.

[0149] Northern blot analysis confirmed that the isolated cDNAcorresponds substantially to all the TNF-R mRNA (the slight discrepancyarises from the absence of part of the 5′-non-coding region). From thisit can be concluded that the expressed protein is the complete TNFreceptor.

[0150] The invention is illustrated by means of the Examples whichfollow.

EXAMPLE 1

[0151] Preparation of Highly Purified TNF-BP

[0152] a) Concentration of Urine

[0153] 200 liters of dialyzed urine from uraemia patients, stored inflasks containing EDTA (10 g/l), Tris (6 g/l), NaN₃ (1 g/l) andbenzamidine hydrochloride (1 g/l) and kept in a refrigerator wereconcentrated by ultrafiltration using a highly permeable haemocapillaryfilter with an asymmetric hollow fibre membrane (FH 88H, Gambro) down to4.2 liters with a protein content of 567 g. The concentrated urine wasdialyzed against 10 mM/l Tris HCl, pH 8. During this procedure, as inthe following steps (except reverse phase chromatography), 1 mM/l ofbenzamidine hydrochloride were added in order to counteract proteolyticdigestion. Unless otherwise stated, all the subsequent purificationsteps were carried out at 4° C.

[0154] b) Ion Exchange Chromatography

[0155] This step was carried out by charging DEAE Sephacel columns(2.5×40 cm) with samples of concentrated and dialyzed urine containingabout 75 g of protein. Elution was carried out with 800 ml of an NaCl/10mM Tris/HCl pH 8 gradient, the NaCl concentration being 0 to 0.4 M. Thefractions from seven columns contain the TNF-BP with a total proteincontent of 114 g were stored at −20° C.

[0156] c) Affinity Chromatography

[0157] In order to prepare the TNF Sepharose column, rTNF-α (15 mg) in0.1 M NaHCO3, 1 M NaCl, pH 9 (coupling buffer) was coupled to 1.5 g ofcyanogen bromide-activated Sepharose 4B (Pharmacia). The Sepharose wasswelled in 1 mM HCl and washed with coupling buffer. After the additionof rTNF-α the suspension was left to rotate for 2 hours at ambienttemperature. The excess CNBr groups were blocked by rotation for one anda half hours with 1M ethanolamine, pH 8. The TNF Sepharose was washed afew times alternately in 1M NaCl, 0.1 M sodium acetate pH 8 and 1 MNaCl, 0.1 M boric acid pH 4 and then stored in phosphate-buffered salinesolution with 1 mM benzamidine hydrochloride. The fractions obtainedfrom step b) were adjusted to a concentration of 0.2 M NaCl, 10 mMTris/HCl, pH 8. The TNF-Sepharose was packed into a column and washedwith 0.2 M NaCl, 10 mM Tris HCl, pH 8 and the TNF-BP-containingfractions, corresponding to about 30 g of protein, were applied at athroughflow rate of 10 ml/h and washed exhaustively with 0.2 M NaCl, 10mM Tris HCl, pH 8, until no further absorption could be detected in theeluate at 280 nm. Then TNF-BP was eluted with 0.2 M glycine/HCl, pH 2.5.TNF-BP-containing fractions from 4 separations were combined andlyophilized after the addition of polyethylene glycol (MW 6000) up to afinal concentration of 10 mg/ml. The lyophilized sample was dissolved indistilled water and dialyzed against distilled water. (The dialyzedsample (4 ml) was stored in deep-frozen state).

[0158] This purification step further concentrated the product by about9000 times compared with the previous product. SDS-PAGE (carried out asdescribed in preliminary test 2) of the TNF-BP containing fractionsshowed the elution of three main components with molecular weights of28,000, 30,000 and 50,000.

[0159] d) Reverse Phase Chrnmatography

[0160] An aliquot amount (1 ml) of the fractions obtained from step c)with the addition of 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid was applied to a ProRPCHR 5/10 column (Pharmacia), connected to an FPLC system (Pharmacia). Thecolumn was equilibrated with 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid and charged atambient temperature with a linear 15 ml gradient of 10 vol % to 50 vol %aceto-nitrile containing 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid; the through-flowrate was 0.3 ml/min. Fractions of 0.5 ml were collected and theabsorption at 280 nm was determined, as well as the activity of theTNF-α binding protein, using the competitive binding test as describedin Example 5, using 0.01 μl of sample in each case. TNF-BP eluted as asingle activity peak corresponding to a sharp UV absorption peak.

[0161] This last purification step brought an increase in specificactivity of about 29 fold, whilst the total increase in activitycompared with the starting material (concentrated dialysis urine) wasabout 1.1×106-fold. SDS-PAGE of the reduced and non-reduced samples,carried out as described in preliminary test 2, resulted in a diffuseband, indicating the presence of a single polypeptide with a molecularweight of about 30,000. The diffused appearance of the band may be dueto the presence of one of more heterogeneous glycosylations and/or asecond polypeptide present in a smaller amount. The assumption that itmight be a polypeptide with the N-terminus found to be a secondarysequence in preliminary test 3d), which is longer than TNF-BP at the endterminus, was confirmed by the sequence of the CDNA, according to whichthere is a fraction of 11 amino acids between the signal sequence andAsn (position 12), the sequence of which coincides with the N-terminalsecondary sequence and which is obviously split off from the processedprotein.

EXAMPLE 2

[0162] SDS Polyacrylimide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE)

[0163] SDS-PAGE was carried out using the method of Laemmli (Laemmli, U.K., Nature 227:680-4 (1970)) on flat gels measuring 18 cm long, 16 cmwide and 1.5 mm thick, with 10 pockets, by means of an LKB 2001electrophoresis unit. The protein content of the samples from thepurification steps c) and d) (preliminary test 1) was determined byBio-Rad Protein Assay or calculated from the absorption at 280 nm, anabsorption of 1.0 being recognized to be equivalent to a content of 1 mgTNF-BP/ml.

[0164] The samples containing about 25 μg of protein (from preliminarytest 1c) or about 5 μg (from 1d) in reduced form (fi-mercaptoethanol)and non-reduced form, were applied to a 3% collecting gel and a 5 to 20%linear polyacrylamide gradient gel. Electrophoresis was carried out at25 mA/gel without cooling. The molecular weight markers used (Pharmacia)were phosphorylase B (MW 94,000), bovine serum albumin (MW 67,000),ovalbumin (MW 43,000), carboanhydrase (MW 30,000), soya bean trypsininhibitor (MW 20,100) and a-lactalbumin (MW 14,400). The gels werestained with Coomassie Blue in 7% acetic acid/40% ethanol anddecolorized in 7% acetic acid/25% ethanol.

[0165] The results of the SDS-PAGE showed TNF-BP to be a polypeptidechain with a molecular weight of about 30,000.

EXAMPLE 3

[0166] a) Preparation of Samples

[0167] 15 μg of the protein purified according to preliminary test 1d)were desalinated using reverse phase HPLC and further purified. To dothis a Bakerbond WP C18 column was used (Baker; 4.6×250 mm) and 0.1%trifluoroacetic acid in water (eluant A) or in acetonitrile (eluant B)as the mobile phase. The increase in the gradient was 20 to 68% eluant Bin 24 minutes. Detection was carried out in parallel at 214 nm and 280nm. The fraction containing TNF-BP was collected, dried and dissolved in75 μl of 70% formic acid and used directly for the amino acid sequenceanalysis.

[0168] b) Amino Acid Sequence Analysis

[0169] The automatic amino acid sequence analysis was carried out withan Applied Biosystems 471 A liquid phase sequenator by on-linedetermination of the phenylthiohydantoin derivatives released, using anApplied Biosystems Analyser, Model 120 A PTH. It gave the followingN-terminal sequence as the main sequence (about 80% of the quantity ofprotein): Asp-Ser-Val-Xaa-Pro-Gln-Gly-Lys-Tyr-Ile-His-Pro-Gln-. Inaddition, the following secondary sequence was detected:Leu-(Val)-(Pro)-(His)-Leu-Gly-Xaa-Arg-Glu-. (The amino acids shown inbrackets could not be clearly identified.)

EXAMPLE 4

[0170] SDS-PAGE

[0171] The sample was prepared as described in Example 3 with thedifference that the quantity of sample was 10 μg. The sample was takenup in 50 μl of water and divided into 4 portions. One of the fouraliquot parts was reduced in order to determine its purity by SOS-PAGEaccording to the method of Laemmli (24) with DTT (dithiothreitol) andseparated on minigels (Höfer, 55×80×0.75 mm, 15%); the molecular weightmarker used was the one specified in Example 2. Staining was carried outusing the Oakley method (Oakley, B. R., et al., Analyt. Biochem.105:361-363 (1986)). The electropherogram is shown in FIG. 9. This showsa single band as a molecular weight of about 30,000.

EXAMPLE 5

[0172] a) TryDtic Peptide Mapping

[0173] About 60 μg of the protein purified in Example 1d) wasdesalinated by reverse phase HPLC and further purified thereby. ABakerbond WP C18 column (Baker; 4.6×250 mm) was used, and 0.1%trifluoroacetic acid in water (eluant A) or in acetonitrile (eluant B)was used as the mobile phase. The increase in gradient amounted to 20 to68% eluant B in 24 minutes. Detection was carried out in parallel at 214nm and at 280 nm. The fraction containing TNF-BP (retention time about13.0 min.) was collected, dried and dissolved in 60 μl of 1% ammoniumbicarbonate.

[0174] 1% w/w, corresponding to 0.6 μg of trypsin (Boehringer Mannheim)was added to this solution and the reaction mixture was incubated for 6hours at 37° C. Then a further 1% w/w of trypsin were added andincubation was continued overnight.

[0175] In order to reduce the disulfide bridges, the reaction mixturewas then combined with 60 μl of 6 M urea and with 12 μl of 0.5 Mdithiothreitol and left to stand for 2 hours at ambient temperature.

[0176] The tryptic cleavage peptides produced were separated by reversephase HPLC, using a Delta Pak C18 column (Waters, 3.9×150 mm, 5 μmparticle diameter, 100 A pore diameter) at 30° C. and 0.1%trifluoroacetic acid in water (eluant A) or in acetonitrile (eluant B)as the mobile phase. The gradient was increased from 0 to 55% of eluantB in 55 minutes, then 55% B was maintained for 15 minutes. The flow ratewas 1 ml/min. and detection was carried out in parallel at 214 nm (0.5AUFS) and at 280 nm (0.05 AUFS).

[0177] b) Sequence Analysis of Tryptic Peptides

[0178] Some of the tryptic cleavage peptides of TNF-BP obtained in a)were subjected to automatic amino acid sequence analysis. Thecorresponding fraction from reverse phase HPLC were collected, dried anddissolved in 75 μl of 70% formic acid. These solutions were useddirectly for sequencing in an Applied Biosystems 477 A Pulsed LiquidPhase Sequenator. Table 1 contains the results of the sequence analysisof the tryptic peptides (the amino acids shown in brackets could not beidentified with certainty). The letters “Xaa” indicate that at thispoint the amino acid could not be identified. In fraction 8 the aminoacid in position 6 could not be identified. The sequence -Xaa-Asn-Ser-for position 6-8 leads one to suppose that the amino acid 6 is presentin glycosylated form.

[0179] In fraction 17 the amino acid in position 6 could not beidentified either. The sequence -Xaa-Asn-Ser- (already occurring infraction 8) for positions 6-8 leads one to suppose that amino acid 6 ispresent in glycosylated form. The first 13 amino acids of fraction 17are substantially identical to fraction 8; fraction 17 should thus be apeptide formed by incomplete tryptic cleavage.

[0180] It is striking that fraction 21 is identical to positions 7 to 14of fraction 27. Both in fraction 21 and in fraction 27 the sequencesuddenly breaks off after the amino acid asparagine (position 8 or 14),even though no tryptic cleavage can be expected here. This indicatesthat the amino acid asparagine (position 8 in fraction 21 or position 14in fraction 27) could be the C-terminal amino acid of TNF-BP.

[0181] It is noticeable that the sequence of fraction 12 which occursonly in small amounts, is substantially identical to the secondarysequence of the N-terminus found in preliminary test 10. The fact thatthe proteins of the main and subsidiary sequence could not be separatedon an analytical reverse phase HPLC column (Example 3b) indicated thatthe protein with the subsidiary sequence was a form of TNF-BP extendedat the N-terminus, which was largely converted by processing into theprotein with the main sequence. TABLE 1 Amino acid sequences of theanalyzed tryptic peptides of TNF-BP Fraction Amino acid sequence  1Asp - Ser - Val - Cys - Pro - Gln - Gly - Lys  2 Xaa - Xaa - Leu - Ser-(Cys)- Ser - Lys  3 Asp - Thr - Val - (Cys)- Gly -(Cys)- Arg  4 Glu -Asn - Glu - (Cys)- Val - Ser - (Cys) - Ser - Asn -(Cys) - Lys  5 Glu -Asn - Glu -(Cys)- Val - Ser - (Cys)-(Ser)- Asn - (Cys)- Lys - (Lys)  8Tyr - Ile - His - Pro - Gln - Xaa - Asn - Ser - Ile - Xaa - Xaa - Xaa -Lys 11 Glu - Cys - Glu - Ser - Gly - Ser - Phe - Thr - Ala - Ser - Glu -Asn -(Asn) - (Lys) 12 Leu - Val - Pro - His - Leu - Gly - Asp - Arg 13Lys - Glu - Met - Gly - Gln - Val - Glu - Ile - Ser - Ser - (Cys)- Thr -Val - Asp - (Arg) 14/I Gly - Thr - Tyr - Leu - Tyr - Asn - Asp - Cys -Pro - Gly - Pro - Gly - Gln - 14/II (Glu) - Met - Gly - Gln - Val-(Glu)- (Ile) - (Ser)- Xaa - Xaa - Xaa - (Val) -(Asp)- 15 Lys - Glu -Met - Gly - Gln - Val - Glu - Ile - Ser - Ser - (Cys) - Thr - Val -Asp - Arg Asp- Thr - Val - (Cys) - Gly - 17 Tyr - Ile - His - Pro -Gln - Xaa - Asn - Ser - Ile - (Cys) - (Cys)- Thr - Lys - (Cys) His -Lys- Gly - Xaa - Tyr - 20 Gly - Thr - Tyr - Leu - Tyr - Asn - Asp -Cys - Pro - Gly - Pro - Gly - Gln - Asp - Thr -Xaa - Xaa - Arg 21 Leu -(Cys) - Leu - Pro - Gln - Ile - Glu - Asn 26 Gln - Asn - Thr - Val-(Cys)- Thr - Xaa - (His)- Ala - Gly - Phe - (Phe) - Leu - (Arg) 27Ser - Leu - Glu - (Cys) - Thr - Lys - Leu - (Cys)- Leu - Pro - Gln -Ile - Glu - Asn

EXAMPLE 6

[0182] Analysis of the C-terminus

[0183] This analysis was carried out on the principle of the methoddescribed in (Hsieng, S. L., et al., J. Chromatography 447:351-364(1988)).

[0184] About 60 μg of the protein purified in Example 2d weredesalinated and thus further purified by reverse phase HPLC. A BakerbondWP C18 column (Baker; 4.6×250 mm) was used and 0.1% trifluoroacetic acidin water (eluant A) or in acetonitrile (eluant B) was used as the mobilephase. The gradient was increased from 20 to 68% eluant B in 24 minutes.Detection was carried out in parallel at 214 nm and at 280 nm. Thefraction containing TNF-BP (retention time about 13.0 min.) wascollected, dried and dissolved in 120 μl of 10 mM sodium acetate(adjusted to pH 4 with 1 N HCl).

[0185] To this solution were added 6 Al of Brij 35 (10 mg/ml in water)and 1.5 μl of carboxypeptidase P (0.1 mg/ml in water, BoehringerMannheim, No. 810142). This corresponds to a weight ratio of enzyme toprotein of 1 to 400 (Frohman, M. A., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.85:8998-9002 (1988)).

[0186] Immediately after the addition of the enzyme a sample of 20 μl ofthe reaction mixture was taken and the enzymatic reaction therein wasstopped by acidifying with 2 μl of concentrated trifluoroacetic acid andby freezing at −20° C.

[0187] The reaction mixture was left to stand in a refrigerator (about8° C.) and samples of 20 μl were taken after 10, 20, 60 and 120 minutes.The remainder of the reaction mixture was left at ambient temperaturefor another 120 minutes. Immediately after being taken, all the sampleswere acidified by the addition of 2 μl of concentrated trifluoroaceticacid and frozen at −20° C., thereby interrupting the enzymatic reaction.

[0188] Parallel to the sample mixture described, containing about 60 μgof TNF-BP, a reagent double blind control was set up under identicalconditions but with no protein added.

[0189] After the last sample had been taken all the samples were driedfor 30 minutes in a Speed Vac Concentrator, mixed with 10 μl of asolution of 2 parts of ethanol, 2 parts of water and 1 part oftriethylamine (=“Redrying solution” of the Picotag amino acid analysissystem of Messrs. Waters) and briefly dried again. Then the samples wereeach mixed with 20 μl of the derivatization reagent(7:1:1:1=ethanol:water:−triethylamine:phenylisothiocyanate; Picotagsystem) in order to derivatize the amino acids split off from theC-terminus, then left to stand for 20 minutes at ambient temperature andthen dried for 1 hour in a Speed Vac Concentrator.

[0190] In order to analyze the derivatized amino acids the samples weredissolved in 100 μl of “Sample Diluent” (Picotag system made by Waters).Of these solutions, 50 μl was analyzed by reverse phase HPLC (column,mobile phase and gradient according to the original specifications ofthe Picotag system made by Waters). The chromatograms of the samples andreagent double blind controls were compared with the chromatogram of asimilarly derivatized mixture (100 pmol/amino acid) of standard aminoacids (Messrs. Beckman).

[0191] As can be seen from the quantitative results of the Picotag aminoacid analysis (Table 2), asparagine is very likely the C-terminal aminoacid of TNF-BP. Apart from asparagine, glutamic acid and a smalleramount of isoleucine were also detected after 240 minutes' reaction.Quantities of other amino acids significantly above the reagent doubleblind value could not be found even after 240 minutes reaction. Thisresult (-Ile-Glu-Asn as the C-terminus) confirms the supposition madefrom the N-terminal sequencing of the tryptic peptides 21 and 27, to theeffect that the amino acids identified at the C-terminus in thesepeptides-Ile-Glu-Asn (Example 5b) - constitute the C-terminus of TNF-BP.

[0192] Reaction Time Integrator Units for the Amino Acids IsoleucineGlutamic Acid Asparagine TABLE 2 Quantitative evaluation of the Picotagamino acid analysis after reaction of carboxypeptidase P with TNF-BP 0 —— — 10 — — — 20 — —  83.304 60 — — 168.250 120 — — 319.470 240 85.53752.350 416.570

METHODS USED IN EXAMPLES 7 to 21:

[0193] In the Examples which follow, standard molecular biologicalmethods were used unless expressly stated otherwise, which can be foundin the relevant textbooks or which correspond to the conditionsrecommended by the manufacturers. To simplify the description of theExamples which follow, frequently recurring methods or designations areabbreviated:

[0194] “Cutting” or “digestion” of DNA refers to the catalytic cleavingof the DNA using restriction endonucleases (restriction enzymes) atsites specific to them (restriction sites). Restriction endonucleasesare commercially available and are used under the conditions recommendedby the manufacturers (buffer, bovine serum albumin (BSA) as carrierprotein, dithiothreitol (DTT) as antioxidant). Restriction endonucleasesare designated by a capital letter, usually followed by small lettersand normally a Roman numeral. The letters depend on the microorganismfrom which the restriction endonuclease in question was isolated (e.g.:Sma I: Serratia marcescens). Usually, about 1 μg of DNA is cut with oneor more units of the enzyme in about 20 μl of buffer solution. Normally,an incubation period of 1 hour at 37° C. is used, but this can be variedin accordance with the manufacturer's instructions for use. Aftercutting, the 5′-phosphate group is sometimes removed by incubation withalkaline phosphatase from calves intestines (CIP). This serves toprevent an undesirable reaction of the specific site in a subsequentligase reaction (e.g. circularization of a linearized plasmid withoutthe insertion of a second DNA fragment). Unless otherwise stated, DNAfragments are normally not dephosphorylated after cutting withrestriction endonucleases. Reaction conditions for incubation withalkaline phosphatase can be found for example in the M13 Cloning andSequencing Handbook (Amersham, PI/129/83/12). After the incubationprotein is removed by extraction with phenol and chloroform and the DNAis precipitated from the aqueous phase by the addition of ethanol.

[0195] “Isolation” of a specific DNA fragment means the separation ofthe DNA fragments obtained by restriction digestion, e.g. on a 1%agarose gel. After electrophoresis and rendering the DNA visible in UVlight by staining with ethidium bromide (EtBr) the desired fragment islocated by means of molecular weight markers which had been applied andbound by further electrophoresis on DE 81 paper (Schleicher and Schüll).The DNA is washed by rinsing with low salt buffer (200 mM NaCl, 20 mMTris pH=7.5, 1 mM EDTA) and then eluted with a high salt buffer (1 MNaCl, 20 mM Tris pH=7.5, 1 mM EDTA). The DNA is precipitated by theaddition of ethanol.

[0196] “Transformation” means the introduction of DNA into an organismso that the DNA can be replicated therein, either extrachromosomally orchromosomally integrated. Transformation of E. coli follows the methodspecified in the M13 Cloning and Sequencing Handbook (Amersham,PI/129/83/12).

[0197] “Sequencing” of a DNA means the determination of the nucleotidesequence. To do this, first of all the DNA which is to be sequenced iscut with various restriction enzymes and the fragments are introducedinto suitably cut M13 mp8, mp9, mp18 or mp19 double stranded DNA, or theDNA is fragmented by ultrasound, the ends repaired and the size-selectedfragments introduced into Sma I cut, dephosphorylated M13 mp8 DNA(Shotgun method). After transformation of E. coli JM 101, singlestranded DNA is isolated from recombinant M13 phages in accordance withthe M13 Cloning and Sequencing Handbook (Amersham, PI/129/83/12) andsequenced by the dideoxy method (Sanger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.74:5463-5467 (1977)). As an alternative to the use of the klenowfragment of E. coli DNA polymerase I it is possible to use T7-DNApolymerase (“Sequenase,” made by United States Biochemical Corporation).The sequence reactions are carried out in accordance with the manual“Sequenase: Step-by-Step Protocols for DNA Sequencing With Sequenase”(Version 2.0).

[0198] Another method of sequencing consists in cloning the DNA which isto be sequenced into a vector which carries, inter alia, a replicationorigin of a DNA single-strand phage (M13, fl) (e.g. Bluescribe orBluescript M13 made by Stratagene). After transformation of E. coliJM101 with the recombinant molecule, the transformants can be infectedwith a helper phage, e.g. M13K07 or R408 made by Promega). As a result,a mixture of helper phages and packaged, single-stranded recombinantvector is obtained. The sequencing template is worked up analogously tothe M13 method. Double-stranded plasmid DNA is denatured by alkalitreatment and directly sequenced in accordance with the above-mentionedsequencing handbook.

[0199] The sequences were evaluated using the computer programsoriginally developed by R. Staden (Staden, R., Nucleic Acid Res.10:4731-4751 (1982)) and modified by Ch. Pieler (Pieler Ch.,Dissertation, Universität Wien (1987)). “Ligating” refers to the processof forming phosphodiester bonds between two ends of double strand DNAfragments. Usually, between 0.02 and 0.2 μg of DNA fragments in 10 μlare ligated with about 5 units of T4DNA ligase (“ligase”) in a suitablebuffer solution (Maniatis, T., et al., Molecular Cloning A laboratoryManual. Cold SprinQ Harbor Laboratory, p. 474 (1982)). “Excising” of DNAfrom transformants refers to the isolation of the plasmid DNA frombacteria by the alkaline SDS method, modified according to Birnboim andDoly, leaving out the lysozyme. The bacteria are used from 1.5 to 50 mlof culture.

[0200] “Oligonucleotides” are short polydeoxynucleotides which arechemically synthesized. The Applied Systems Synthesizer Model 381A isused for this. The oligonucleotides are worked up in accordance with theModel 381A User Manual (Applied Biosystems). Sequence primers are useddirectly without any further purification. Other oligonucleotides arepurified up to a chain length of 70 by the OPC method(OPC=Oligonucleotide purification column, Applied Biosystems, ProductBulletin, January 1988). Longer oligonucleotides are purified bypolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (6% acrylamide, 0.15% bisacrylamide,6 M urea, TBE buffer) and after elution from the gel, desalinated over aG-25 sepharose column.

EXAMPLE 7

[0201] Preparation of TNF-BP-specific Hybridization Probes

[0202] The oligonucleotides were selected, with a view to using them toamplify cDNA, by PCR:

[0203] a) From the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the TNF-bindingprotein (main sequence, obtained from preliminary test 3 and Example 5,fraction 1) Asp-Ser-Val-Cys-Pro-Gln-Gly-Lys-Tyr-Ile-His- Pro-Gln-

[0204] a heptapeptide region was selected which permits the lowestpossible complexity of a mixed oligonucleotide for hybridizing to cDNA:these are amino acids 6 to 12. In order to reduce the complexity of themixed oligonucleotide, four mixed oligonucleotides were prepared eachhaving a complexity of 48. The oligonucleotides were prepared in thedirection of the mRNA and are thus oriented towards the 3′ end of thesequence and are identical to the non-coding strand of the TNF-BP gene:Gln-Gly-Lys-Tyr-Ile-His-Pro 5′CAA GGT AAA TAT ATT CAT CC 3′TNF-BP #3/1    G       G   C   C   C EBI-1639                     A 5′CAA GGC AAATAT ATT CAT CC 3′TNF-BP #3/2     G       G   C   C   C EBI-1640                    A 5′CAA GGA AAA TAT ATT CAT CC 3′TNF-BP #3/3    G       G   C   C   C EBI-1641                     A 5′CAA GGG AAATAT ATT CAT CC 3′TNF-BP #3/4     G       G   C   C   C EBI-1642                    A

[0205] b) From the amino acid sequence of a tryptic peptide (fraction 11of the tryptic digestion) of the amino acid sequenceGlu-Cys-Glu-Ser-Gly-Ser-Phe-Thr-Ala-Ser-(Glu/Cys)-Asn-Asn-Lys

[0206] (cf. Example 5)

[0207] a peptide region was selected and another set of mixedoligonucleotides were synthesized:  -Phe-Thr-Ala-Ser-Glu-Asn-Asn-Lys                  Cys TNF-BP #4/5 (EBI-1653): 3′AAA TGA CGG AGA CTC TTGTTG TT CCTAGGG 5′     G   G   T   T   T         T TNF-BP #4/6(EBI-1654): 3′AAA TGA CGG TCA CTC TTG TTG TT CCTAGGG 5′    G   G   T   T   T         T TNF-BP #4/7 (EBI-1657): 3′AAA TGA CGGAGA ACA TTG TTG TT CCTAGGG 5′     G   G   T   T   T         T TNF-BP#4/8 (EBI-1658): 3′AAA TGA CGG TCA ACA TTG TTG TT CCTAGGG 5′    G   G   T   T   T         T

[0208] The oligonucleotides were synthesized complementarily to mRNA andare thus oriented towards the 5′ end of the sequence. In order to allowefficient cloning of the amplified DNA fragment following the PCR, aBamHI linker was also provided at the 5′ end of the oligonucleotides. Iffor example oligonucleotides TNF-BP Nos. 4/5-8 together with TNF-BP No.3/1-4 are used for the PCR on the entire λ DNA of a library, any DNAfragment which results can be subsequently cut with BamHI. The partneroligonucleotides yield a straight end at the 5′ terminus andconsequently the fragment can be cloned into the SmaI-BamHI sites of asuitable vector.

[0209] Each mixed oligonucleotide TNF-BP No. 4/5 to 8 is a mixture of 48individual nucleotides and does not take into-account a few codons,namely: Thr ACG Ala GCG and GCT Ser TCG and TCC Asn AAT

[0210] In the case of GCT the possibility that the triplet CGGcomplementary to GCC (Ala) can be effective by forming a G-T bridge istaken into consideration, while in the case of TCG (Ser) and AAT (Asn)the same applies with regard to AGT and TTG, respectively.

[0211] ACG, GCG and TCG are extremely rare codons (CG rule) and aretherefore not taken into consideration.

EXAMPLE 8

[0212] Amplification of a partial Sequence Coding for TNF-BP From a cDNALibrary

[0213] a) Isolation of λ-DNA of a CDNA Library

[0214] The CDNA library was prepared using the method described inEP-A1-0293 567 for the human placental cDNA, with the difference thatthe starting material used was 109 fibro-sarcoma cells of the cell lineHS 913 T, which had been grown by stimulation with human TNF-α (10ng/ml). Instead of λ gt10, λ gt11 was used (cDNA synthesis: Amersham RPN1256; EcoRI digested λ gt11 arms: Promega Biotech; in vitro packaging ofthe ligated DNA: Gigapack Plus, Stratagene).

[0215] 5 ml of the phage supernatant of the amplified cDNA library ofthe human fibrosarcoma cell line HS913T in λ gt11 were mixed with 0.5 μgof RNase A and 0.5 μg of DNase I and incubated for 1 hour at 37° C. Themixture was centrifuged fnr 10 minutes at 5000×g, the supernatant wasfreed from protein by extraction with phenol and chloroform and the DNAwas precipitated from the aqueous phase by the addition of ethanol. TheA-DNA was dissolved in TE buffer (10 mM Tris pH 7.5; 1 mM EDTA).

[0216] b) PCR Amplification of a TNF-BP Sequence From a cDNA Library

[0217] For the application of PCR (Saiki et al., Science 239:487-491(1988)) to DNA from the HS913T cDNA library, 16 individual reactionswere carried out, in each of which one of the 4 mixed oligonucleotidesEBI-1639, EBI-1640, EBI-1641, EBI-1642 were used as first primers andone of the four mixed oligonucleotides EBI-1653, EBI-1654, EBI-1657 andEBI-1658 was used as the second primer. Each of these mixedoligonucleotides contains 48 different oligonucleotides of equal length.

[0218] Amplification by means of PCR took place in 50 μl reactionvolume, containing 250 ng of λ-DNA from the cDNA library, 50 mM KCl, 10mM Tris pH=8.3, 1.5 mM MgCl₂, 0.01% gelatine, 0.2 mM of each of the 4deoxynucleoside triphosphates (dATP, dGTP, dCTP, dTTP), 200 pmol of eachof first and second primer and 1.25 units of Taq polymerase[Perkin-Elmer Cetus]. To prevent evaporation the solution was coatedwith a few drops of mineral oil (0.1 ml) the PCR was carried out in aDNA Thermal Cycler (Perkin Elmer Cetus) as follows: the samples wereheated to 94° C. for 5 minutes in order to denature the DNA, and thensubjected to 40 amplification cycles. One cycle consisted of 40 seconds'incubation at 94° C., 2 minutes incubation at 55° C. and 3 minutesincubation at 72° C. At the end of the last cycle the samples wereincubated at 72° C. for a further 7 minutes to ensure that the lastprimer lengthening had been completed. After cooling to ambienttemperature, the samples were freed from protein with phenol andchloroform and the DNA was precipitated with ethanol.

[0219] 5 μl of each of the 16 PCR samples were applied to an agarose geland the length of the amplified DNA fragments was determined afterelectrophoretic separation. The most intense DNA band, a fragment 0.16kb long, could be seen in the PCR samples which had been amplified withthe oligonucleotide EBI-1653 as the first primer and one of theoligonucleotides EBI-1639, EBI-1640, EBI-1641 or EBI-1642 as the secondprimer. Since the sample amplified with the pair of primers EBI-1653 andEBI-1642 contained the largest amount of this 0.16 kb DNA fragment, thissample was selected for further processing.

EXAMPLE 9

[0220] Cloning and Sequencing of a DNA Fragment Obtained by PCRAmplification

[0221] The PCR product of primers EBI-1642 and EBI-1653 obtained was cutwith BamHI and subsequently separated by electrophoresis in an agarosegel (1.5% NuSieve GTG agarose plus 1% Seakem GTG agarose, FMCCorporation) according to size. The main band, a DNA fragment 0.16 kblong, was electroeluted from the gel and precipitated with ethanol. ThisDNA fragment was ligated with BamHI/SmaI cut plasmid pUC18 (Pharmacia)and E. coli JM101 was transformed with the ligation mixture. Theplasmids prepared by the mini-preparation method were characterized bycutting with the restriction enzymes PvuII and EcoRI-BamHI andsubsequent electrophoresis in agarose gels. The plasmid pUC18 containstwo cutting sites for PvuII which flank the polycloning site in a 0.32kb DNA fragment. Very short DNA inserts in the polycloning site of theplasmid can be made visible more easily in agarose gel after cuttingwith PvuII since the length is extended by 0.32 kb. By cutting withEcoRI and BamHI the DNA fragment ligated into the plasmid vector cutwith BamHI and SmaI, including some base pairs of the polylinkersequence, can be obtained. A clone with the desired insert has beendesignated pTNF-BP3B. The entire DNA insert of this clone was sequencedafter subcloning of an EcoRI-BamHI fragment in M13mp18 (Pharmacia) bythe modified dideoxy method using sequenase (United States BiochemicalCorporation).

[0222] Analysis of the PCR-amplified DNA gave the following sequence(only the non-coding strand is shown, and above it the derived aminoacid sequence):                   5              10 Gln Gly Lys Tyr IleHis Pro Gln Asn Asn Ser Ile Cys CAG GGG AAA TAT ATT CAC CCT CAA AAT AATTCG ATT TGC     15                  20                  25 Cys Thr LysCys His Lys Gly Thr Tyr Leu Tyr Asn Asp TGT ACC AAG TGC CAC AAA GGA ACCTAC TTG TAC AAT GAC             30                  35Cys Pro Gly Pro Gly Gln Asp Thr Asp Cys Arg Glu Cys TGT CCA GGC CCG GGGCAG GAT ACG GAC TGC AGG GAG TGT 40                  45              50Glu Ser Gly Ser Phe Thr Ala Ser Glu Asn Asn Lys GAG AGC GGC TCCTTC ACA GCC TCA GAA AAC AAC AAG GAT CC

[0223] The first 20 and last 29 nucleotides (underlined script)correspond to the sequences of the primer oligonucleotides EBI-1642 andthe complement of EBI-1653, respectively. Amino acids 38 to 43 confirmthe remaining sequence of the tryptic peptide 11. Furthermore, the DNAfragment produced by PCR contains the sequence of the peptide offraction 20 of the tryptic digestion (amino acids 20 to 34, underlined).This shows that the clone pTNF-BP3B was derived from a cDNA which codesfor TNF binding protein. pTNF-BP3B therefore constitutes a probe, e.g.for searching for TNF-BP cDNAs in cDNA libraries.

EXAMPLE 10

[0224] Isolation of TNF-BP cDNA Clones

[0225] About 720,000 phages of the HS913T cDNA library in λ gt11 wereplated on E. coli Y1088 (ΔlacU169, pro::Tn5, tonA2, hsdR, supE, supF,metB, trpR, F-,λ-, (pMC9)) (about 60,000 phages per 14.5 cm petri dish,LB-agar: 10 g/l tryptone, 5 g/l of yeast extract, 5 g/l of NaCl, 1.5%agar, plating in top agarose: 10 g/l of tryptone, 8 g/l of NaCl, 0.8%agarose). Two nitrocellulose filter extracts were prepared from eachplate. The filters were prewashed (16 hours at 65° C.) in:

[0226] 50 mM Tris/HCl pH=8.0

[0227] 1 M NaCl

[0228] 1 mM EDTA

[0229] 0.1% SDS

[0230] The filters were pre-hybridized for two hours at 65° C. in:

[0231] 6× SSC (0.9M NaCl, 0.09 M trisodium citrate)

[0232] 5× Denhardt's (0.1% Ficoll, 0.1% polyvinylpyrrolidone, 0.1% BSA(=bovine serum albumin)

[0233] 0.1% SDS

[0234] Preparation of the radioactively labelled probe: pTNF-BP 3B wasdoubly cut with BamHI and EcoRI and the approximately 0.16 kb insert wasisolated. 0.6 μg of the insert in 32 μl were denatured at 100° C. andprimed with 60 pmol each of EBI-1642 and EBI-1653 by cooling to 80° C.over 10 minutes and rapid cooling in ice water. After the addition of

[0235] 10 μl a-³²P-dCTP (100 μCi, 3.7 MBq)

[0236] 5 μl 10× priming buffer (0.1 M Tris/HCl pH=8.0, 50 mM MgCl₂)

[0237] 2 μl 1 mM dATP, dGTP, dTTP

[0238] 1 μl PolIK (Klenow fragment of E. coli DNA polymerase I, 5 units)

[0239] Incubation was carried out for 90 minutes at ambient temperature.After heat inactivation (10 minutes at 70° C.), the non-incorporatedradioactivity was removed by chromatography on Biogel P6DG (Biorad) inTE buffer (1.0 mM Tris/HCl pH=8, 1 mM EDTA). 65×10⁶ cpm wereincorporated. The hybridization of the filters was carried out in atotal volume of 80 ml of 6×SSC/5× Denhardt's/0.1% SDS plusheat-denatured hybridizing probe for 16 hours at 65° C. The filters werewashed twice for 30 minutes at ambient temperature in 6×SSC/0.01% SDSand once for 45 minutes at ambient temperature in 2×SSC/0.01% SDS andthree times for 30 minutes at 65° C. in 2×SSC/0.01% SDS. The filterswere dried in air and then exposed to Amersham Hyperfilm for 16 hoursusing an intensifier film at −70° C. In all, 30 hybridizing plaques wereidentified (λ-TNF-BP No. 1-30). The regions with the hybridizing plaqueswere pricked out as precisely as possible and the phages were eluted in300 μl of SM buffer plus 30 μl of chloroform. By plaque purification(plating of about 200 phages per 9 cm petri dish on the second passage,or about 20 phages per 9 cm petri dish on the third passage, filterextracts doubled, preparation, hybridization and washing (as describedin the first search) 25 hybridizing phages were finally separated(λ-TNF-BP #1-10, 12-24, 29,30).

[0240] Preparation of the recombinant λ-DNA from the clones λ-TNF-BPNos. 13. 15. 23. 30:

[0241] 2×10⁶ phages were plated on E. coli Y1088 in top agarose (10 g/ltryptone, 8 g/l NaCl, 0.8% agarose) (14.5 cm petri dish) with LB agarose(1.5% agarose, 0.2% glucose, 10 mM MgSO4, 10 g/l tryptone, 5 g/l yeastextract, 5 g/l NaCl) and incubated at 37° C. for 6 hours. After theplates had been cooled (30 minutes at 4° C.) they were coated with 10 mlof λ-diluent (10 mM Tris/HCl pH=8.0, 10 MM MgCl₂, 0.1 mM EDTA) andeluted for 16 hours at 4° C. The supernatant was transferred into 15 mlCorex test tubes and centrifuged for 10 minutes at 15000 rpm and at 4°C. (Beckman J2-21 centrifuge, JA20 rotor). The supernatant was decantedinto 10 ml polycarbonate test tubes and centrifuged at 50000 rpm at 20°C. until ω²t=3×10¹⁰ (Beckman L8-70, 50 Ti rotor). The pellet wasresuspended in 0.5 ml of λ-diluent and transferred into Eppendorf testtubes (1.4 ml). After the addition of 5 μg of RNase A and 0.5 μg DNaseIand incubation at 37° C. for 30 minutes and the addition of 25 μl of 0.5M EDTA, 12.5 μl of 1 M Tris/HCl pH=8.0, 6.5 μl of 20% SDS, incubationwas continued at 70° C. for 30 minutes. The λ-DNA was purified byphenol/chloroform extraction and precipitated with ethanol. Finally, theDNA was dissolved in 100 μl of TE buffer.

EXAMPLE 11

[0242] Subcloning and Sequencing of TNF-BP cDNA Clones 15 and 23

[0243] In order to characterize the cDNAs of the clones λTNF-BP15 andλTNF-BP23, Which showed the strongest signals during hybridization, thecDNA inserts were cut out of the λ-DNA with EcoRI, then afterelectrophoretic separation eluted from an agarose gel and precipitatedwith ethanol. The DNA fragments of 1.3 kb (from λTNF-BP15) and 1.1 kb(from λTNF-BP23) were cut with EcoRI and ligated with alkalinephosphatase from calves' intestines dephosphorylated plasmid vectorpT7/T3α-18 (Bethesda Research Laboratories) with T4 DNA ligase and E.coli JM101 was transformed. From individual colonies of bacteria whichshowed no blue staining after selection on agarose plates withampicillin and X-gal, plasmid DNA was prepared in a mini preparationprocess and the presence and orientation of the cDNA insert wasdetermined by cutting with EcoRI and HindIII. Plasmids which containedthe EcoRI insert of the phages λTNF-BP15 or λTNF-BP23 oriented in such away that the end corresponding to the 5′-end of the mRNA is facing theT7 promotor were designated pTNF-BP15 and pTNF-BP23, respectively. TheEcoRI inserts of λTNF-BP15 and λTNFBP23 were also ligated in M13mp19vector which had been cut with EcoRI and dephosphorylated, and E. coliJM101 was transformed. From a few randomly selected M13 clones,single-stranded DNA was prepared and used as the basis for sequencing bythe dideoxy method. On M13 clones which contained the cDNA inserts inthe opposite orientation, both DNA strands were fully sequenced usingthe universal sequencing primer and specifically synthesizedoligonucleotide primers which bind to the cDNA insert.

[0244] The complete nucleotide sequence of 1334 bases of the cDNA insertof λTNF-BP15 or pTNF-BP15 is shown in FIG. 1. Bases 1-6 and 1328-1334correspond to the EcoRI linkers which had been added to the cDNA duringthe preparation of the cDNA library. The nucleotide sequence of the cDNAinsert of λTNF-BP23 corresponds to that of λTNF-BP15 (bases 22-1100),flanked by EcoRI linkers.

[0245] The clone λTNF-BP30 was also investigated; its sequencecorresponds to λTNF-BP15, except that the sequence has a deletion of 74bp (nucleotide 764 to 837).

EXAMPLE 12

[0246] Construction of the Expression Plasmid DAD-CMV1 and pADCMV2

[0247] From parts of the expression plasmids pCDM8 (Seed and Aruffo,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 84:8573-8577 (1987); Seed , B. Nature 329:840-842(1987)); Invitrogen), pSV2gptDHFR20 (EP-A1 0321 842) and the plasmidBluescript SK+ (Short, J. M., et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 11:5521-5540(1988); Stratagene) a new plasmid was constructed which has amulti-cloning site for the directed insertion of heterologous DNAsequences and which can be replicated in E. coli by means of ampicillinresistance with a high copy number. The intergenic region of M13 makesit possible to produce single-stranded plasmid DNA by superinfection ofthe transformed bacteria with a helper phage (e.g. R408 or M13K07) tofacilitate sequencing and mutagenesis of the plasmid DNA. The T7promotor which precedes the multi-cloning site makes it possible toprepare RNA transcripts in vitro. In mammalian cells heterologous genesare expressed, driven by cytomegalovirus (CMV) promotor/enhancer(Boshart, M., et al., Cell 41:521-530 (1985)). The SV40 replicationorigin makes it possible, in suitable cell lines (e.g. SV40 transformedcells such as COS-7, adenovirus transformed cell line 293 (ATCCCRL1573)), to carry out autonomous replication of the expression plasmidat high copy numbers and thus at high rates in transient expression. Forpreparing permanently transformed cell lines and subsequently amplifyingthe expression cassette by means of methotrexate, a modified hamsterminigene is used (promotor with coding region and the first intron) fordihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) as the selection marker.

[0248] a) Preparation of the Vector and Promotor Sections by PCR

[0249] The plasmid Bluescript SK+ was linearized with HindIII and 5 ngof DNA was used in a 100 μl PCR mixture (reaction buffer: 50 mM KCl, 10mM Tris-Cl pH=8.3, 1.5 mM MgCl₂, 0.01% (w/v) gelatine, 0.2 mM of thefour deoxynucleotide triphosphates (dATP, dGTP, dCTP, dTTP), 2.5 unitsof Taq polymerase per 100 μl. The primers used were 50 pmol of thesynthetic oli-gonucleotides EBI1786 (5′-GGAATTCA-GCCTGAATGGCGAATGGG-3′;binds just outside the M13 ori-region in Bluescript position 475,independently of the M13 ori-orientation) and EBI-1729(5′-CCTCGAGCGTTGCTGGCGTTTTTCC-3′; binds to Bluescript at position 1195in front of ori, corresponds to the start of the Bluescript sequence inpCDM8, 6 bases 5′ yield XhoI). After 5 minutes denaturing at 94° C. PCRwas carried out over 20 cycles (40 seconds at 94° C., 45 seconds at 55°C., 5 min at 72° C., Perkin Elmer Cetus Thermal Cycler). Theoligonucleotides flank the intergenic region of M13 or the replicationorigin (ori) with the intermediate gene for β-lactamase. At the sametime, at the end of the replication origin an XhoI cutting site isproduced and at the other end an EcoRI cutting site. The reactionmixture was freed from protein by extraction with phenol/chloroform andthe DNA was precipitated with ethanol. The DNA obtained was cut withXhoI and EcoRI and after electrophoresis in an agarose gel a fragment of2.3 kb was isolated.

[0250] 5 ng of plasmid pCDM8 linearized with SacII was amplified by PCRwith the oligonucleotides EBI-1733 (5′GGTCGACATTGATTAT-TGACTAG-3′; bindsto CMV promotor region (position 1542) of pCDM8, corresponding toposition 1 in pAD-CMV, SalI site for cloning) and EBI-1734(5′GGAATTCCCTAGGAATACAGCGG-3′; binds to polyoma origin of 3′SV40 polyAregion in pCDM8 (position 3590)) under identical conditions to thosedescribed for Bluescript SK+. The oligonucleotides bind at the beginningof the CMV promotor/enhancer sequence and produce an SalI cutting site(EBI-1733) or bind to the end of the SV40 poly-adenylation site andproduce an EcoRI cutting site (EBI-1734). The PCR product was cut withSalI and EcoRI and a DNA fragment of 1.8 kb was isolated from an agarosegel.

[0251] The two PCR products were ligated with T4 DNA ligase, E. coliHB101 transformed with the resulting ligation product and plasmid DNAwas amplified and prepared using standard methods. The plasmid of thedesired nature (see FIG. 3) was designated pCMV-M13. The SV40replication origin (SV40 ori) was isolated from the plasmidpSV2gptDHFR20 (EP-A1 0321842). To do this, this plasmid was doubly cutwith HindIII and PvuII and the DNA ends were blunted by subsequenttreatment with the large fragment of the E. coli DNA polymerase (klenowenzyme) in the presence of the four deoxynucleotide triphosphates. A0.36 kb DNA fragment thus obtained was isolated from an agarose gel andligated into pCMV-M13 linearized with EcoRI. A plasmid obtained aftertransformation of E. coli HB101, with the SV40 ori in the sameorientation as the β-lactamase gene and the CMV promotor, was designatedpCMV-SV40. The construction of this plasmid is shown in FIG. 3.

[0252] b) Mutagenesis of the DHFR Gene

[0253] In order to prepare an expression plasmid with a versatilemulticloning site, two restriction enzyme cutting sites were removedfrom the DHFR minigene by directed mutagenesis and three such sites wereremoved by deletion. To do this, a 1.7 kb BglII fragment from theplasmid pSV2gptDHFR20, containing the entire coding region of thehamster DHFR gene, was cloned into the BglII site of the plasmid pUC219(IBI) and the plasmid pUCDHFR was obtained. E. coli JM109 (Stratagene)cells transformed with pUCDHFR were infected with an approximately40-fold excess of the helper phage R408 (Stratagene) and shaken in LBmedium for 16 hours at 37° C. Single stranded plasmid DNA was isolatedfrom the bacterial supernatant.

[0254] Controlled mutagenesis was carried out in two successive steps,using the in vitro mutagenesis system RPN1523 (Amersham). The EcoRI sitelocated at the beginning of Exon 2 was destroyed by exchanging a basefrom GMTTC to GAGTTC. This base exchange does not result in any changein the coded amino acid sequence and furthermore corresponds to thenucleotide sequence in the natural murine DHFR gene (McGrogan, M., etal., J. Biol. Chem. 260:2307-2314 (1985); Mitchell, P. J., et al., Mol.Cell. Biol. 6:425-440 (1986)). An oligcrucleotide (Antisenseorientation) of the sequence 5′-GTACTTGAACTCGTTCCTG-3′ (EBI-1751) wasused for the mutagenesis. A plasmid with the desired mutation wasprepared as single strand DNA as described above and the PstI sitelocated in the first intron was removed by mutagenesis with theoligonucleotide EBI-1857 (Antisense orientation,5′-GGCMGGGCAGCAGCCGG-3′) from CTGCAG into CTGCTG. The mutations wereconfirmed by sequencing and the resulting plasmid was designatedpUCDHFR-Mut2.

[0255] The 1.7 kb BglII fragment was isolated from the plasmidpUCDHFR-Mut2 and ligated into plasmid pSV2gptDHFR20, doubly cut withBglII and BamHI. After transformation of E. coli, amplification and DNAisolation, a plasmid of the desired nature was obtained, which wasdesignated pSV2gptDHFR-Mut2. By cutting with BamHI, in the 3′-non-codingregion of the DHFR gene a 0.12 kb DNA fragment following the BglII sitewas removed, which also contains a KpnI cutting site. By linking theoverhanging DNA ends formed with BglII and BamHI, the recognitionsequences for these two enzymes were also destroyed.

[0256] The plasmid pCMV-SV40 was doubly cut with EcoRI and BamHI and theDNA ends were then blunted with Klenow enzyme. The DNA was purified byextraction with phenol chloroform and ethanol precipitation, thendephosphorylated by incubation with alkaline phosphatase and the 4.4 kblong vector DNA was isolated from an agarose gel.

[0257] The plasmid pSV2gptDHFR-Mut2 (FIG. 4) was doubly cut with EcoRIand PstI and the DNA ends were blunted by 20 minutes' incubation at 11°C. with 5 units of T4 DNA polymerase (50 mM Tris HCl pH=8.0, 5 mM MgCl₂,5 mM dithiothreitol, 0.1 mM of each of the four deoxynucleotidetriphosphates and 50 μg/ml of bovine serum albumin). The 2.4 kb long DNAfragment with the mutated DHFR gene was isolated from an agarose gel andligated with the pCMV-SV40 prepared as described above. A plasmidobtained after transformation of E. coli and containing the DHFR gene inthe same orientation as the CMV promotor was designated pCMV-SV40DHFR.

[0258] In the last step the 0.4 kb stuffer fragment after the CMVpromotor, which originated from the original plasmid pCDM8, wasexchanged for a multicloning site. To do this, the plasmid pCMV-SV40DHFRwas doubly cut with HindIII and XbaI and the vector part was isolatedfrom an agarose gel. The multicloning site formed from the twooligonucleotides EBI-1823(5′-AGCTTCTGCAGGTCGACATCGATGGATCCGGTACCTCGAGCGGCCGCGAAT-TCT-3′) andEBI-1829(5′-CTAGAGAATTCGCGGCCGCTCGAGGTACCGGATCCA-TCGATGTCGACCTGCAGA-3′),contains, including the ends which are compatible for cloning inHindIII-XbaI, restriction cutting sites for the enzymes PstI, SalI,ClaI, BamHI, KpnI, XhoI, NotI and EcoRI.

[0259] 1 μg of each of the two oligonucleotides was incubated for 1 hourat 37° C. in 20 μl of reaction buffer (70 mM Tris-Cl pH=7.6, 10 mMMgCl₂, 5 mM dithiothreitol, 0.1 mM ATP) with 5 units of T4polynucleotide kinase in order to phosphorylate the 5′ ends. Thereaction was stopped by heating to 70° C. for 10 minutes and thecomplementary oligonucleotides were hybridized with one another byincubating the sample for a further 10 minutes at 56° C. and then slowlycooling it to ambient temperature. 4 μl of the hybridizedoligonucleotides (100 ng) were ligated with about 100 ng of plasmidvector and E. coli HB101 was transformed. A plasmid which was capable ofbeing linearized with the enzymes of the multicloning site (with theexception of NotI) was designed pAD-CMV1. Of a number of clones tested,it was not possible to identify any one the plasmids which could be cutwith NotI. Sequencing always showed the deletion of some bases withinthe NotI recognition sequence.

[0260] In the same way, the expression plasmid pAD-CMV2 which containsthe restriction cutting sites within the multicloning site in thereverse order was obtained with the oligonucleotide pair EBI-1820(5′-AGCTCTAGAGAATTCGCGGCCGCTCGAGGTAC-CGGATCCATCGATGTCGACCTGCAGAAGCTTG-3′)and EBI-1821(5′-CTAGCAAGCTTCTGCAGGTCGACATCGATGGATCCGGTACCTCGAGCGGCCGCGAAT-TCTCTAG-3′).The plasmid pAD-CMV2 was obtained which was capable of being linearizedwith all the restriction enzymes, including NotI.

[0261] The nucleotide sequence of the 6414 bp plasmid pADCMV1 (FIG. 5)is shown in full in FIG. 6.

[0262] The sections of the plasmid (specified in the numbering of thebases) correspond to the following sequences:

[0263] 1-21 EBI-1733, beginning of CMV enhancer-promotor (from CDM8)

[0264] 632-649 T7 promotor

[0265] 658-713 Multicloning site (HindIII to XbaI from EBI-1823,EBI-1829)

[0266] 714-1412 SV40 intron and poly-adenylation site (from CDM8)

[0267] 1413-2310 5′-non-coding region and promotor of the hamster DHFRgene (from pSV2gptDHFR20)

[0268] 2311-2396 Hamster DHFR: Exon 1

[0269] 2516 A to T mutation destroys PstI site in DHFR intron 1

[0270]2701-3178 DHFR Exons 2-6 (coding region)

[0271] 2707 A to G mutation destroys EcoRI site

[0272] 3272-3273 Deletion between BglII and BamHI in DHFR 3′-non-codingregion

[0273] 3831 End of DHFR gene (from pSV2gptDHFR20)

[0274] 3832-4169 SV40 ori (from pSV2gptDHFR20)

[0275] 4170-4648 M13 ori (from pBluescript SK+)

[0276] 4780-5640 β-lactamase (coding region)

[0277] 6395-6414 EBI-1729, end of the pBluescript vector sequence

[0278] The preparation of the plasmids pAD-CMV1 and pAD-CMV2 is shown inFIG. 5.

EXAMPLE 13

[0279] Construction of the Plasmid pADTNF-BP for the Expression of theSoluble Form of TNF-BP

[0280] In order to prepare the secreted form of TNF-BP by the directmethod, a translation stop codon was inserted in the cDNA coding forpart of the TNF receptor (see Example 11; hereinafter designated TNF-RCDNA) after the codon of the C-terminal amino acid of the natural TNF-BP(AAT, Asn-172; corresponding to position 201 in FIG. 9). In this way theprotein synthesis is broken off at this point and makes it possible tosecrete TNF-BP directly into the cell supernatant without having toundergo a subsequent reaction, which might possibly be rate determiningof proteolytic cleaving of sections of the TNF receptor located in theC-terminal direction.

[0281] At the same time as the stop codon was inserted by PCR the5′-non-coding region of the TNF-R cDNA was shortened in order to removethe translation start codon of another open reading frame (bases 72-203in FIG. 9), which is located 5′from that of the TNF-R, and a BamHI orEcoRI cutting site is inserted at the 5′ or 3′-end of the cDNA.

[0282] 100 ng of plasmid pTNF-BP15 linearized with XmnI (see Example 11)were amplified with 50 pmol of oligonucleotides EBI-1986 (Sense,5′-CAGGATCCGAGTCTCAACCCTCMC-3′) and EBI-1929 (Antisense,5′-GGGAATTCCTTATCAATTCTCMTCTGGGGTAGGCACAACTTC-3′; insertion of two stopcodons and an EcoRI site) in a 100 μl PCR mixture over 10 cycles. Thecycle conditions were 40 minutes at 94° C., 45 seconds at 55° C. and 5minutes at 72° C. After the last cycle incubation was continued for afurther 7 minutes at 72° C. and the reaction was stopped by extractingwith phenol chloroform. The DNA was precipitated with ethanol and thendoubly cut with BamHI and EcoRI. The resulting 0.75 kb DNA fragment wasisolated from an agarose gel and cloned into plasmid pT7/T3α-19 (BRL)doubly cut with BamHI and EcoRI. One of the plasmids obtained, which wasfound to have the desired sequence, when the entire insert wassequenced, was designated pTNF-BP.

[0283] pTNF-BP was cut with BamHI and EcoRI and the 0.75 kb DNA insertwas cloned into the expression plasmid pAD-CMV1 cut with BamHI andEcoRI. A plasmid obtained with the desired composition was designatedpADTNF-BP (FIG. 7A).

EXAMPLE 14

[0284] Construction of the plasmid PADBTNF-BP for the Expression of theSoluble form of TNF-BP

[0285] For another variant of an expression plasmid for the productionof secreted TNF-BP, the 5′-non-coding region of TNF-R cDNA was exchangedfor the 5-non-coding region of human β-globin mRNA. The reason for thiswas the finding that the nucleotide sequence immediately before thetranslation start codon of the TNF-R sequence differs significantly fromthe concensus sequence found for efficient expression of eukaryoticgenes (Kozak, 1987), whereas the 5′-non-coding region of the β-globinmRNA corresponds extremely well to this concensus sequence (Lawn et al.,1980). By means of the oligonucleotide EBI-2452(5′-CACAGTCGACTTACATTTGCTTCTGACACMCTGTGTTCACTAGCAAC-CTCAAACAGACACCATGGGCCTCTCCACCGTGC-3′), which contained after a SalIrestriction cutting site the authentic 5′-noncoding sequence,corresponding to the human β-globin mRNA sequence, followed by 20 basesof the coding region of TNF-BP, the TNF-R sequence was modified in aPCR. 100 ng of plasmid pTNF-BP linearized with EcoRI were amplified in100 μl of reaction mixture with 50 pmol each of the oligonucleotidesEBI-2452 and EBI-1922 (Antisense, 5′-GAGGCTGCAATTGAAGC3′; binds to thehuTNF-R sequence at position 656) in 20 PCR cycles (40 seconds at 94°C., 45 seconds at 55° C., 90 seconds at 72° C.). After the PCR producthas been purified by extraction with phenol-chloroform and ethanolprecipitation, the DNA was doubly cut with SalI and BglII and theresulting 0.51 kb DNA fragment was isolated from an agarose gel. Thecorresponding part of the TNF-R sequence was removed from the plasmidpTNF-BP by cutting with SalI and BglII, the 3.1 kb long plasmid portionwas isolated from an agarose gel and ligated with the 0.51 kb long PCRproduct. After transformation of E. coli, seven of the resultingplasmids were sequenced. One of these plasmids contained precisely thedesired sequence. This plasmid was designated pBTNF-BP. The entireSalI-EcoRI insert of pBTNF-BP was cloned into the similarly cutexpression plasmid pAD-CMV1 and the resulting plasmid was designatedpADBTNF-BP (FIG. 7B).

EXAMPLE 15

[0286] Isolation of Rat TNF-R cDNA Clones

[0287] First of all, rat brain CDNA was prepared analogously to theHS913T cDNA library (see Example 4) from the rat Glia tumour cells linesC6 (ATCC No. CCL107) in λ-gt11.

[0288] 600,000 phages of the rat brain cDNA library in λgt11 werescreened by hybridization as described in Example 6. The probe used wasthe purified EcoRI insert of pTNF-BP30 (cf. Example 6). About 100 ng ofDNA were radioactively labelled with 1 μg of random hexamer primerinstead of the specific oligonucleotides, as described in Example 6,using [α-³²P]dCTP. 25×10⁶ cpm were incorporated. Hybridization of thefilters was carried out under the same conditions as in Example 6. Thefilters were washed twice for 30 minutes at ambient temperature in2×SSC/0.1% SDS and three times for 30 minutes at 65° C. in 2×SSC/0.1%SDS and twice for 30 minutes at 65° C. in 0.5×SSC/0.5% SDS. The airdried filters were then exposed to Kodak XAR X-ray film for 16 hoursusing an intensifier film at −70° C. A total of 10 hybridizing plaqueswere identified and separated by plaque purification. After plaquepurification had been carried out three times, three A clones (λ-raTNF-RNos. 3, 4 and 8) were finally separated out and the phage DNA wasprepared as described.

[0289] The length of the cDNA insert was determined after cutting theλ-DNA with EcoRI and separation in an agarose gel at 2.2 kb for theclones raTNF-R3 and raTNF-R8 and 2.1 kb for clone raTNF-R4. The EcoRIinserts of clones raTNF-R3 and 8 were cloned into similarly cut M13mp19and the DNA sequence was determined with universal sequencing primersand specifically synthesized oligonucleotide primers.

[0290] The complete nucleotide sequence of raTNF-R8 is shown in FIG. 8.The first and last seven bases correspond to the EcoRI linkers which hadbeen added during the preparation of the CDNA library.

EXAMPLE 16

[0291] Isolation of a Clone Containing the Complete cDNA Coding for theHuman TNF Receptor

[0292] The complete cDNA of the rat TNF-R made it easier to search forthe missing 3′ part of human TNF-R cDNA. The probe used for thehybridization was the 0.4 kb long PCR product of the primers EBI-2316(5′-ATTCGTGCGGCGCCTAG-3′; binds to TNF-R with the 2nd base of EcoRI,breaks off at the TNF-R cDNA) and EBI-2467 (5′GTCGGTAGCACCAAGGA-3′;binds about 400 bases before poly-A to cDNA clone, corresponds toposition 1775 in raTNF-R) with AraTNF-R8 as starting material. This DNAfragment corresponds to the region of rat TNF-R cDNA which had beenassumed to follow the internal EcoRI site in human TNF-R.

[0293] 2.5×10⁶ cpm of the raTNF-R probe were used to hybridize 600,000plaques of the HS913T cDNA library. The hybridization conditionscorresponded to those specified in Example 10. The filters were washedtwice for 30 minutes at ambient temperature in 2×SSC/0.1% SDS and twicefor 30 minutes at 65° C. in 2×SSC/0.1% SDS, dried in the air and exposedto Kodak XAR X-ray film using an intensifier film for a period of 3 daysat −70° C. Six positive plaques were identified purified to two furtherrounds of plaques and λ-DNA was prepared λTNF-R Nos. 2, 5, 6, 8, 11 and12). After the λ-DNA had been cut with EcoRI all the clones had a DNAband about 0.8 kb long. λ-TNF-R2 and 11 additionally contained an EcoRIfragment of 1.3 kb. The two EcoRI inserts from λTNF-R2 were subclonedinto the EcoRI site of plasmid pUC218 (IBI) and then sequenced. Thesequence of the 1.3 kb EcoRI fragment corresponded to that of cDNA clonepTNF-BP15, the 0.8 kb EcoRI fragment corresponds to the 3′ part of TNF-RmRNA and contains, in front of the EcoRI linker sequence, a poly-A tailwith 16 A residues. λTNF-R2 therefore contains the complete codingregion for human TNF-R, shown in FIG. 9.

EXAMPLE 17

[0294] Construction of the Plasmids PADTNF-R and PADBTNF-R forExpression of the Entire Human TNF Receptor

[0295] First of all, as described in Example 13 for pTNF-BP orpADTNF-BP, a plasmid was constructed in which the 5′ non-coding regionof pTNF-BP15 had been shortened, but, unlike the plasmids described inExample 13, the 3′-end of pTNF-BP15 had been kept. For this purpose,under identical conditions to those described in Example 13, pTNF-BP15was amplified with PCR using the oligonucleotide EBI-1986 and the M13-40universal primer (5′-GTTTTCCCAGTCACGAC-3′). The PCR product was doublycut with BamHI and EcoRI and cloned into the plasmid pT7/T3α-19. One ofthe plasmids obtained was designated pTNF-BP15B.

[0296] pTNF-BP15B was cut with BamHI and EcoRI and the 1.26 kb DNAinsert was cloned into expression plasmid pAD-CMV1 cut with BamHI andEcoRI. A plasmid of the desired composition thus obtained was designatedpADTNFBP15.

[0297] This plasmid was linearized with EcoRI and the 0.8 kb EcoRIfragment isolated from λTNF-R2 was cloned into the cutting site. Aftertransformation of E. coli, a few randomly isolated plasmids werechecked, by cutting with various restriction enzymes, for the correctorientation of the EcoRI fragment used. A plasmid designated pADTNF-R(FIG. 7C) was investigated more accurately for correct orientation bysequencing the insert, starting from the 3′-end of the inserted cDNAwith the oligonucleotide EBI-2112 (5′GTCCAAT-TATGTCACACC-3′), whichbinds to the plasmid pAD-CMV1 and its derivatives after the multicloningsite.

[0298] Another expression plasmid in which the 5′-noncoding region ofthe TNF-R is exchanged for that of β-globin was constructed. PlasmidpADBTNF-BP was cut completely in order to remove the 1.1 kb BglIIfragment, the DNA ends were then dephosphorylated with calves'intestinal alkaline phosphatase and the plasmid vector (5.9 kb) with theβ-globin 5′-non-coding region of the β-globin gene and the 5′ part ofthe TNF-R coding region was isolated from an agarose gel. PlasmidpADTNF-R was cut with BglII and the 2.5 kb DNA fragment containing the3′ section of the TNF-R cDNA as far as the promotor region of thefollowing DHFR gene, was isolated from an agarose gel and cloned intothe plasmid vector which had been prepared beforehand. A plasmidobtained after transformation of E. coli having the BglII fragmentinserted in the correct orientation was designated pADBTNF-R (FIG. 7D).

EXAMPLE 19

[0299] Expression of Soluble TNF-BP in Eukaryotic Cell Lines

[0300] a) ELISA Test

[0301] In this Example TNF-BP was detected by the ELISA test as follows:

[0302] 96 well microtitre plates were coated in each well with 50 μl of1:3000 diluted polyclonal rabbit serum (polyclonal rabbit antibodies,prepared by precipitation of antiserum with ammonium sulphate, finalconcentration 50% saturation) against natural TNF-BP for 18 hours at 4°C., washed once with 0.05% Tween 20 in PBS and free binding sites wereblocked with 150 to 200 μl of 0.5% bovine serum albumin, 0.05% Tween 20in PBS (PBS/BSS/Tween) for one hour at ambient temperature. The wellswere washed once with 0.05% Tween 20 in PBS and 50 μl of cellsupernatant or known quantities of natural TNF-BP (see Tables 3 and 4)and 50 μl of a 1:10,000-fold dilution of a polyclonal mouse serumagainst TNF-BP was applied and incubated for two hours at ambienttemperature. Then the wells were washed three times with 0.05% Tween 20in PBS and 50 μl of rabbit anti-mouse Ig-peroxidase conjugate (DakoP161; 1:5000 in PBS/BSA/Tween) were added and incubation was continuedfor a further two hours at ambient temperature. The wells were washedthree times with Tween/PBS and the staining reaction was carried outwith orthophenylenediamine (3 mg/ml) and Na-perborate (1 mg/ml) in0.067M potassium citrate, pH 5.0, 100 μl per well, for 20 minutes atambient temperature away from the light. After the addition of 100 μl of4N H2S04 the color intensity at a wavelength of 492 nm was measuredphotometrically in a microfilm plate photometer.

[0303] b) Transient Expression of Soluble TNF-BP in Eukarvotic CellLines

[0304] About 106 cells (COS-7) per 80 mm petri dish were mixed with 10%heat inactivated fetal calves' serum 24 hours before transfection inRPMI-1640 medium and incubated at 37° C. in a 5% C02 atmosphere. Thecells were separated from the petri dish using a rubber spatula andcentrifuged for 5 minutes at 1200 rpm at ambient temperature (Heraeusminifuge, swing-out rotor 3360), washed once with 5 ml of serum-freemedium, centrifuged for 5 minutes at 1200 rpm and suspended in 1 ml ofmedium mixed with 250 μg/ml of DEAE dextran and 10 μg of plasmid DNA(see Table 3), purified by carrying out CsCl density gradientcentrifugation twice). The cells were incubated for 40 minutes at 37°C., washed once with 5 ml of medium containing 10% calves' serum andsuspended in 5 ml of medium with 100 μg/ml of chloroquin. The cells wereincubated for one hour at 37° C., washed once with medium and incubatedwith 10 ml of fresh medium at 37° C. After 72 hours the cell supernatantwas harvested and used to detect the secreted TNF-BP. TABLE 3 Cell lineCOS-7 without plasmid <5 ng/ml pADTNF-BP 7.5 ng/ml pADBTNF-BP 146 ng/ml

[0305] c) Preparations of Cell Lines Which Permanently Produce TNF-BP

[0306] The dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR)-deficient hamster ovarial cellline CHO DUKX BII (Urlaub and Chasin, 1980) was transfected with plasmidpADBTNF-BP by calcium phosphate precipitation (Current Protocols inMolecular Biology, 1987). Four thickly grown cell culture flasks (25cm², 5 ml of culture medium per flask) were transfected with 5 μg ofDNA; after four hours incubation at 37° C. the medium was removed andreplaced by 5 ml of selection medium (MEM alpha medium with 10% dialyzedfetal calves' serum). After incubation overnight the cells were detachedusing trypsin solution; the cells from each flask were divided betweentwo 96-well tissue culture plates (100 μl per well in selection medium).Fresh medium was added at about weekly intervals. After about four weekscell clones could be observed in 79 wells. The supernatants were testedfor TNF-BP activity by the ELISA test. 37 supernatants showed activityin ELISA. The results of the ELISA test of some positive clones areshown in Table 4. TABLE 4 Sample Absorption at 492 nm TNF-BP Standard  1ng/ml 0.390  10 ng/ml 1.233 100 ng/ml 1.875 Culture medium (negativecontrol) 0.085 Clone A1G3 0.468 A2F5 0.931 A3A12 0.924 A4B8 0.356 A5A120.806 A5B10 0.915 A5C1 0.966

EXAMPLE 20

[0307] RNA Analysis (Northern Blot) of the Human TNF Receptor

[0308] 1 μg of poly-A⁺ RNA (isolated from HS913T (fibrosarcoma)),placenta and spleen were separated by electrophoresis in a 1.5% verticalagarose gel (10 mM Na phosphate buffer pH=7.0, 6.7% formaldehyde). Thesize marker used was a kilobase ladder radioactively labelled by afill-in reaction with (α-³²P)dCTP and Klenow enzyme (Bethesda ResearchLaboratories). The formaldehyde was removed from the gel by irrigationand the RNA was transferred in 20× SSC to a nylon membrane (Genescreenplus, NEN-DuPont). The RNA was covalently bonded on the membrane by UVirradiation (100 seconds). The membrane was prehybridized for 2 hours at65° C. in Church buffer (Church and Gilbert, 1984) (0.5 M Na-phosphatepH=7.2, 7% SDS, 1 mM EDTA) and hybridized for 19 hours at 65° C. infresh Church buffer with 3×10⁶ cpm P-32 labelled DNA probe (EcoRI insertof pTNF-BP30). The filter was washed three times for 10 minutes atambient temperature in washing buffer (40 mM Na phosphate pH=7.2, 1%SDS) and then four times for 30 minutes at 65° C. in washing buffer andexposed to Kodak XAR X-ray film for 18 hours using an intensifier filmat −70° C.

[0309] The autoradiogram (FIG. 10) shows a singular RNA band with alength of 2.3 kb for the human TNF receptor in the analyzed tissues orcell line HS913T.

EXAMPLE 21

[0310] Expression of the TNF Receptor

[0311] For transient expression 5−10×10⁷ COS-7 cells were incubated for40 minutes with 10 μg of pADTNF-R plasmid DNA in a solution containing250 μg/ml of DEAE dextran and 50 μg/ml of chloroquin. pADCMV-1-DNA wasused as control. After transfection the cells were washed and thencultured for 48 hours. The expression of the TNF receptor wasdemonstrated by the binding ¹²⁵I-TNF. For the binding tests the cellswere washed, incubated for one hour at 4° C. with 10 mg of ¹²⁵I-TNF(specific radioactivity 38,000 cpm/ng) with or without a 200 fold excessof unlabelled TNF and the radioactivity bound to the cells was measuredin a gamma-counter. The specific binding in the control sample was 2062cpm and in the samples transformed with TNF receptor DNA it was 6150 cpm(the values are expressed as the average bound cpm; the standarddeviation determined from parallel tests is taken into account. Thenon-specific background in the presence of unlabelled TNF was subtractedfrom the values).

What is claimed is:
 1. A recombinant polypeptide having the ability to bind TNF, wherein said polypeptide is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence of the formula: R¹-R²-R³-R⁴, wherein R¹ is ATG, or the nucleotide sequence ATG GGC CTC TCC ACC GTG CCT GAC CTG CTG CTG CCA CTG GTG CTC CTG GAG CTG TTG GTG GGA ATA TAC CCC TCA GGG GTT ATT GGA (SEQ ID NO: 5), or is absent; R² is the nucleotide sequence CTG GTC CCT CAC CTA GGG GAC AGG GAG AAG AGA(SEQ ID NO: 7) or is absent; R³ is the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3; and R⁴ is the nucleotide sequence GTT AAG GGC ACT GAG GAC TCA GGC ACC ACA (SEQ ID NO: 9) or is absent.
 2. The recombinant polyp eptide of claim 1, wherein R¹ is ATG, R² is the nucleotide sequence CTG GTC CCT CAC CTA GGG GAC AGG GAG AAG AGA (SEQ ID NO: 7), and R⁴ is the nucleotide sequence GTT AAG GGC ACT GAG GAC TCA GGC ACC ACA (SEQ ID NO: 9).
 3. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 1, wherein R¹ is ATG, R² is the nucleotide sequence CTG GTC CCT CAC CTA GGG GAC AGG GAG AAG AGA (SEQ ID NO: 7), and R⁴ is absent.
 4. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 1, wherein R¹ is ATG, R² is absent, and R⁴ is the nucleotide sequence GTT AAG GGC ACT GAG GAC TCA GGC ACC ACA (SEQ ID NO: 9).
 5. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 1, wherein R¹ is ATG, R² is absent, and R⁴ is absent.
 6. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 1, wherein R¹ is the nucleotide sequence ATG GGC CTC TCC ACC GTG CCT GAC CTG CTG CTG CCA CTG GTG CTC CTG GAG CTG TTG GTG GGA ATA TAC CCC TCA GGG GTT ATT GGA (SEQ ID NO: 5), R² is the nucleotide sequence CTG GTC CCT CAC CTA GGG GAC AGG GAG AAG AGA (SEQ ID NO: 7), and R⁴ is the nucleotide sequence GTT AAG GGC ACT GAG GAC TCA GGC ACC ACA (SEQ ID NO: 9).
 7. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 1, wherein R¹ is the nucleotide sequence ATG GGC CTC TCC ACC GTG CCT GAC CTG CTG CTG CCA CTG GTG CTC CTG GAG CTG TTG GTG GGA ATA TAC CCC TCA GGG GTT ATT GGA (SEQ ID NO: 5), R² is the nucleotide sequence CTG GTC CCT CAC CTA GGG GAC AGG GAG AAG AGA (SEQ ID NO: 7), and R⁴ is absent.
 8. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 1, wherein R¹ is the nucleotide sequence ATG GGC CTC TCC ACC GTG CCT GAC CTG CTG CTG CCA CTG GTG CTC CTG GAG CTG TTG GTG GGA ATA TAC CCC TCA GGG GTT ATT GGA (SEQ ID NO: 5), R² is absent, and R⁴ is the nucleotide sequence GTT AAG GGC ACT GAG GAC TCA GGC ACC ACA (SEQ ID NO: 9).
 9. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 1, wherein R¹ is the nucleotide sequence ATG GGC CTC TCC ACC GTG CCT GAC CTG CTG CTG CCA CTG GTG CTC CTG GAG CTG TTG GTG GGA ATA TAC CCC TCA GGG GTT ATT GGA (SEQ ID NO: 5), R² is absent, and R⁴ is absent.
 10. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 1, wherein R¹ is absent, R² is the nucleotide sequence CTG GTC CCT CAC CTA GGG GAC AGG GAG AAG AGA (SEQ ID NO: 7), and R⁴ is the nucleotide sequence GTT AAG GGC ACT GAG GAC TCA GGC ACC ACA (SEQ ID NO: 9).
 11. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 1, wherein R¹ is absent, R² is the nucleotide sequence CTG GTC CCT CAC CTA GGG GAC AGG GAG AAG AGA (SEQ ID NO: 7), and R⁴ is absent.
 12. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 1, wherein R¹ is absent, R² is absent, and R⁴ is the nucleotide sequence GTT AAG GGC ACT GAG GAC TCA GGC ACC ACA (SEQ ID NO: 9).
 13. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 1, wherein R¹ is absent, R² is absent, and R⁴ is absent.
 14. A recombinant polypeptide that is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 15. A recombinant polypeptide having the ability to bind TNF, wherein said polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence of the formula: R¹-R²-R³-R⁴, wherein R is methionine, or the amino acid sequence Met Gly Leu Ser Thr Val Pro Asp Leu Leu Leu Pro Leu Val Leu Leu Glu Leu Leu Val Gly Ile Tyr Pro Ser Gly Val Ile Gly (SEQ ID NO: 6), or is absent; R² is the amino acid sequence Leu Val Pro His Leu Gly Asp Arg Glu Lys Arg (SEQ ID NO: 8) or is absent; R³ is the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; and R⁴ is the amino acid sequence Val Lys Gly Thr Glu Asp Ser Gly Thr Thr (SEQ ID NO: 10) or is absent; and wherein said polypeptide has: a) at least one conservative amino acid substitution; b) at least one amino acid substitution at a glycosylation site; c) at least one amino acid substitution at a proteolytic cleavage site; d) at least one amino acid substitution at a cysteine residue; e) at least one amino acid deletion; f) at least one amino acid insertion; g) a C- and/or N-terminal truncation; or h) a combination of modifications selected from the group consisting of conservative amino acid substitutions, amino acid substitutions at a glycosylation site, amino acid substitutions at a proteolytic cleavage site, amino acid substitutions at a cysteine residue, amino acid deletions, amino acid insertions, C-terminal truncation, and N-terminal truncation.
 16. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 15, wherein said polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence of the formula: R¹-R²-R³-R⁴ and has at least one conservative amino acid substitution.
 17. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 15, wherein said polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence of the formula: R¹-R²-R³-R⁴ and has at least one amino acid substitution at a glycosylation site.
 18. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 15, wherein said polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence of the formula: R¹-R²-R³-R⁴ and has at least one amino acid substitution at a proteolytic cleavage site.
 19. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 15, wherein said polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence of the formula: R¹-R²-R³-R⁴ and has at least one amino acid substitution at a cysteine residue.
 20. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 15, wherein said polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence of the formula: R¹-R²-R³-R⁴ and has at least one amino acid deletion.
 21. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 15, wherein said polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence of the formula: R¹-R²-R³-R⁴ and has at least one amino acid insertion.
 22. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 15, wherein said polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence of the formula: R¹-R²-R³-R⁴ and has a C- and/or N-terminal truncation.
 23. A recombinant polypeptide having the ability to bind TNF, wherein said polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence of the formula: R¹-R²-R³-R⁴, wherein R¹ is methionine, or the amino acid sequence Met Gly Leu Ser Thr Val Pro Asp Leu Leu Leu Pro Leu Val Leu Leu Glu Leu Leu Val Gly Ile Tyr Pro Ser Gly Val Ile Gly (SEQ ID NO: 6), or is absent; R² is the amino acid sequence Leu Val Pro His Leu Gly Asp Arg Glu Lys Arg (SEQ ID NO: 8) or is absent; R³ is the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; and R⁴ is the amino acid sequence Val Lys Gly Thr Glu Asp Ser Gly Thr Thr (SEQ ID NO: 10) or is absent.
 24. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 23, wherein R¹ is methionine, R² is the amino acid sequence Leu Val Pro His Leu Gly Asp Arg Glu Lys Arg (SEQ ID NO: 8), and R⁴ is the amino acid sequence Val Lys Gly Thr Glu Asp Ser Gly Thr Thr (SEQ ID NO: 10).
 25. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 23, wherein R¹ is methionine, R² is the amino acid sequence Leu Val Pro His Leu Gly Asp Arg Glu Lys Arg (SEQ ID NO: 8), and R⁴ is absent.
 26. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 23, wherein R¹ is methionine, R² is absent, and R⁴ is the amino acid sequence Val Lys Gly Thr Glu Asp Ser Gly Thr Thr (SEQ ID NO: 10).
 27. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 23, wherein R¹ is methionine, R² is absent, and R⁴ is absent.
 28. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 23, wherein R¹ is the amino acid sequence Met Gly Leu Ser Thr Val Pro Asp Leu Leu Leu Pro Leu Val Leu Leu Glu Leu Leu Val Gly Ile Tyr Pro Ser Gly Val Ile Gly (SEQ ID NO: 6), R² is the amino acid sequence Leu Val Pro His Leu Gly Asp Arg Glu Lys Arg (SEQ ID NO: 8), and R⁴ is the amino acid sequence Val Lys Gly Thr Glu Asp Ser Gly Thr Thr (SEQ ID NO: 10).
 29. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 23, wherein R¹ is the amino acid sequence Met Gly Leu Ser Thr Val Pro Asp Leu Leu Leu Pro Leu Val Leu Leu Glu Leu Leu Val Gly Ile Tyr Pro Ser Gly Val Ile Gly (SEQ ID NO: 6), R² is the amino acid sequence Leu Val Pro His Leu Gly Asp Arg Glu Lys Arg (SEQ ID NO: 8), and R⁴ is absent.
 30. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 23, wherein R¹ is the amino acid sequence Met Gly Leu Ser Thr Val Pro Asp Leu Leu Leu Pro Leu Val Leu Leu Glu Leu Leu Val Gly Ile Tyr Pro Ser Gly Val Ile Gly (SEQ ID NO: 6), R² is absent, and R⁴ is the amino acid sequence Val Lys Gly Thr Glu Asp Ser Gly Thr Thr (SEQ ID NO: 10).
 31. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 23, wherein R¹ is the amino acid sequence Met Gly Leu Ser Thr Val Pro Asp Leu Leu Leu Pro Leu Val Leu Leu Glu Leu Leu Val Gly Ile Tyr Pro Ser Gly Val Ile Gly (SEQ ID NO: 6), R² is absent, and R⁴ is absent.
 32. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 23, wherein R¹ is absent, R² is the amino acid sequence Leu Val Pro His Leu Gly Asp Arg Glu Lys Arg (SEQ ID NO: 8), and R⁴ is the amino acid sequence Val Lys Gly Thr Glu Asp Ser Gly Thr Thr (SEQ ID NO: 10).
 33. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 23, wherein R¹ is absent, R² is the amino acid sequence Leu Val Pro His Leu Gly Asp Arg Glu Lys Arg (SEQ ID NO: 8), and R⁴ is absent.
 34. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 23, wherein R¹ is absent, R² is absent, and R⁴ is the amino acid sequence Val Lys Gly Thr Glu Asp Ser Gly Thr Thr (SEQ ID NO: 10).
 35. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 23, wherein R¹ is absent, R² is absent, and R⁴ is absent.
 36. A recombinant polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 2. 37. A recombinant polypeptide having the ability to bind TNF, wherein said polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or a C- and/or N-terminally shortened sequence thereof.
 38. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 37 wherein said polypeptide further comprises an amino-terminal methionine.
 39. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 37, wherein said polypeptide comprises a C-terminally shortened sequence of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 4. 40. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 39, wherein said polypeptide further comprises an amino-terminal methionine.
 41. A recombinant polypeptide having the ability to bind TNF, wherein said polypeptide consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 4. 42. A recombinant polypeptide having the ability to bind TNF, wherein said polypeptide consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 and an amino-terminal methionine.
 43. A recombinant polypeptide having the ability to bind TNF, wherein said polypeptide consists of a C-terminally shortened sequence of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 4. 44. A recombinant polypeptide having the ability to bind TNF, wherein said polypeptide consists of a C-terminally shortened sequence of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 and an amino-terminal methionine.
 45. The recombinant polypeptide of either claims 15 or 23, wherein said polypeptide has at least one additional amino acid at the amino-terminus, at the carboxyl-terminus, or at both the amino-terminus and the carboxyl-terminus.
 46. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 45, wherein said polypeptide has at least one additional amino acid at the amino-terminus.
 47. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 46, wherein said polypeptide has a methionine at the amino-terminus.
 48. The recombinant polypeptide of claim 45, wherein said polypeptide has at least one additional amino acid at the carboxyl-terminus.
 49. A recombinant polypeptide having the ability to bind TNF, wherein said polypeptide is encoded by a nucleic acid which hybridizes under moderately or highly stringent conditions to the complement of the nucleic acid molecule defined in claim
 1. 50. The polypeptide of any of claims 1, 15, or 23, wherein said polypeptide is chemically derivatized.
 51. The polypeptide of any of claims 1, 14, 15, 23, 36, 37, 41, 42, 43, 44, or 49, wherein said polypeptide is not glycosylated.
 52. The polypeptide of any of claims 1, 14, 15, 23, 36, 37, 41, 42, 43, 44, or 49, wherein said polypeptide is glycosylated.
 53. The polypeptide of claim 52, wherein said polypeptide is glycosylated by a CHO cell. 